I have a small
patch of land,
just one acre;
here the world
is at peace,
the robins
and the cardinals
all get along;
the weeds
and the perennials
grow together.
There are no democrats
or republicans
allowed here,
they would
destroy the
ambiance
with their
vitriol. Christian,
Muslim, and Jew alike
may come and
worship here,
and I will make them
tea, and serve them
lunch; it is all right
to have an opinion
and you should vote
for whichever
candidate you want,
but do not bring
your blasphemies
onto my holy land;
the catbird is irritating
but I just drink my wine
and say, “shut up, catbird.”
He (or she) ignores me.
The wood bees are sometimes
aggressive, but I swat
at them, and loudly
assure them that they
would not be if I didn’t
let them bee;
at least, around here.
I have neighbors.
The ones to the west
do not speak
my language,
and the children
to the east
sound like wild animals,
like democrats,
and sometimes
even like republicans,
but we all get along.
I understand
you are afraid
of what might be,
but if you could
only see, that
it will work itself
out just like it
does here in my
yard, with a little
of my help,
but not because
of me.