We Are What They See… Poem by Betty Jo Hilger

Our hands are painted brightly with our deeds
Our souls dyed with the pacts which we have made
Our hearts are tinted with the shelter of our dreams
We’ve dreamt of for ourselves and for our blood

Our touch leaves lines and traces of our hue
Behind when we have touched another soul
The color smoldering is bright with residue
Emotions often left out of control

Our spirit grows from our foundation’s vine
With vintages of passion flavored wine
Whose aftertaste depends upon the subtle brew
Of tenderness or anger borne anew

Our harvest is determined by our path
The journeyed trek of love or pain we choose
For choices which once made will make up who we are
Serenity or chaos, we’re imbued

Our fantasies and goals change over time
Once passing we cannot regain the frame
And if we are not careful to point our path toward home
We could find joy has flown from our refrain

Our lives are fragile, fleeting, delicate…
One misstep can lead us upon a trail
Whose passageways are fraught with enormous stumbling blocks
Leaving our intentions there to fail…

Each choice we choose will be action delivered
Each love we choose will be returned in kind
To treat each of our neighbors better than ourselves
Will bring unmeasured treasure
Given time…