'Too Lightly On Life's Scale, Compassion Weighs' Poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen

With a hand extended
friendship is bridged.
With a smile on the lips
the joy of the spirit is shared.
With an open arm
pain finds its release.

With listening ears
crumbling walls fall.
With an open purse
the generous heart overflows.
With an open mind,
the light of truth shines.


With a helping hand
a mountain is moved.
With the singing heart
hope for the future is assured.
With unconditional love
the suffering world is embraced.

With joined hearts and minds
a ripple of oneness expands
through all seas and lands.
It doesn't need much weight.
It only starts from a mysterious
light scale in life,
Compassion weighs.