That Place Within Poem by Jon Ojala

I've built for myself
a pleasant existence,
comfortable but not opulent,
finding love of family,
joy of friendship,
refuge from the harshness
of life elsewhere.
My immediate world
has no violence, disease,
poverty, famine, or war.
I can turn a blind eye to
the young couple on the side of the road
who hold up a sign saying
'will work for food.'
I can cross to the other side of the street
to avoid the homeless man
with the pushcart.
I can turn off the news channels
when they bring me images of suffering,
indifference, hopelessness.
I can insulate my conscience
by donating small sums of money to charity.
I can retreat back inside, to that place within,
when challenged by the sad things of the world.
After all, what can just one person do?
Unless.
Unless I choose to follow the words
of the Prophet who said:
'try a little harder to do a little better.'
Or the Prophet who gave us counsel to
'Feed my sheep.'
After all,
despite our geopolitical and cultural differences,
are we not all brothers and sisters?

© ® 2008 Jon Ojala