Tell me not

Of selfish children

Stamping feet

demanding

The world is here to indulge them

Tell me not

Of impatient adults

Who run their shopping carts ahead

Of old folks in the Walmart line

So hurried with unspoken message

The world is too young for them

Tell me not

Of hostility

Which empties a glass of water

In the face of an uneducated waitress

Ignorant of propriety

Slave to illusive grandiosity

The world is too good for them

Tell me instead

When the shift does change

To sight

Enveloping regret

Embracing reason

Empathically responding

And I will show you

A people who forgive

Infidelity

A people who joyfully

Wait

A people who accept

differences

A world that understands

Common sense and compassion

Cannot be taught

without example