The Quality of Kindness

The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven
Upon the place beneath.
It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
..... William Shakespeare

The quality of kindness
Is the most precious of our treasures;
The humblest, yet most courageous;
From eye to eye it beckons—
Look long and deeply into mine,
We are one, you and I,
In our pain and in our joy;
In my yearning to find hope,
Am I misunderstood?
Have I misunderstood you?
We are all brought to tears,
By the touch of a kind word or act,
That drops like healing rain
Upon the wounds that we carry;
Let us hope that our eyes
Fully opened,
Will look deeply into the beauty,
In the eyes of our brothers,
And encourage
The quality of kindness that waits there.
Edie Batstone