WINGS OF COURAGE

Looking to the sky of a new day in all its light

Surviving the challenges of the night into a new dawn, we will find

Peace in society, love in community, freedom in the mind

Wing of courage, with John we will fly.

To challenge what is truly right, none violence is the true fight.

Travel up the mountain with peace on our are minds.

To see the valley on the other side to all the beauty some wish to hide.

Freedom, justice, and diversity that strive to have in life

Wings of courage, with Greta, as she sails over the oceans and seas.

To challenge those who can't see the environmental realities.

Overcoming negative thoughts always offended by humorous talk

Unable to see inside themselves, what matters to them is only their feelings.

Laughter is what we need, never taking ourselves too seriously.

Wings of courage, with Mr. Charels Edward Cheese challenging his own worth

Standing with a mic in his hand, educating with laughter.

Wings of courage we all must have every woman and man

Overall of society negatives that some don't see, but many feel

Let us get over this hill.

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 2021  

NOTES:

 

 

RELIGION WILL NEVER

Thoughts that are not my own

An inheritance for the soul

This made me feel all alone.

What religion will never know

Is the truth of the soul

How to become whole

A belief that segregated me

Religion never set me free.

Living beneath everybody

What religion will never see

Kindness is not the intent but only condemn

A community ego fills the ATM.

A spiritual movement stalled by the ego

Where are Thurman, King, and Gandhi today

Hear the weeping sister at the wall as she would pray

What religion will never hear

The voice of inner pain and fear

Without true light, the path isn't clear.

Declaring a path with no direction

Never arriving at the destination.

Living in a cage in a free nation

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 2021

NOTES:

THE HILL WE CLIMB (Inspired by the poem of Amanda Gorman)

Out from under the shadow of a never-ending ego 

The light of respect in the distance can be seen

The voice of optimism is no longer a dream

Hear the echoing sounds on the streets

Passionate words of justice and peace

The hill we climb over all obstacles and lies.

The journey is long, but on the other side, we will see the dawn.

A nation is broken into pieces with unresolved emotions.

We strive to fulfill the immigrant's dream.

To see their children grow up to be free and one day lead.

Through a child's voice, ancient ancestors sing.

Songs of amazing grace as every voice will ring.

The hill we climb to a destination of new life.

A celebration of all our difference, we will find

We grow out of remembrance when tragedy makes no sense. 

The pain we feel in this moment, the cure is in the journey up this hill.

As we strive for that glimmer of hope, we discover what we have always known.

With a passion for peace, this division we will defeat to one day see

America is a comforting home; it is my home; it is your home that everyone should know. 

The hill we climb to find the promised land on the other side.

What was once the words of a dream is now the reality.

In Malcolm, we found an example of passion through all means.

In Marten, we found the dream of peace.

In John, we found the good trouble that will lead.

In Harriet, we found an appreciation of what it is like to be free.

Together we have found the determination we need.

The hill we climb above a land one day will shine.

Bring light to all diverse faces as we become one nation.

The fire of passion today is quenched by the satisfying waters of tomorrow. 

With courage unafraid, we will defeat all this sorrow.

We must believe in this; we must believe us; we must find the trust.

Together we must have the courage to be it.

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 2021

NOTES: 

 

MELANIN

Knowing who I am, comes from within

My difference shouldn't be the color of my skin

It should be the virtuous caricature of being your friend.

 

Melanin is diversity's best friend.

Beige to ebony-brown life still moves around.

As the ancestor drums get loud

Segregation is like the colors of the rainbow.

Each one to its own place in an order that is its own

Is this the way equality should be known

Melanin is diversity's best friend.

There is so much more than the light you absorb 

Hear the complex stores of long-ago

Can't read a book by looking at the cover

There is much more to my complexion yet to be discovered.

Chemically I am different from you as humans; we are sisters and brothers.

Melanin is diversity's best friend.

Look deep inside, see peace and love through the eyes

Find those parts that you hide

In our walk through life, we look left and right.

You see other people's paths as you lose direction and wonder why

So look forward; there is so much more you will find

Melanin is diversity's best friend.

Trying to change to become what you already are

 Be who you are meant to be; this can sometimes is hard.

We march with heavy feet on these streets and hear the call of this land

A color that matters becomes an echoing chant.

A call for justice for all, justice for every man

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 2021

NOTES:

 

LOVE PHILOSOPHY

Don't judge me with your bitterness.

Don't care how you dress.

To me, it doesn't matter who you kiss.

Love is a philosophy, not an activity.

Don't force your adjectives on me.

My acceptance is on the content of your character.

Selfishness is the only way you know how to care.

The way you walk through life. 

It is like walking on the edge of a knife.

Cutting away what genetics gave you is your right

Love is a philosophy, not an activity.

Don't force your acronym on me.

I want to walk a movement that is for everybody.

Making reasons for exclusion is what you do

Woman or man is now just slang. 

Your left with two feet and two hands 

Now, what is your conventional life plan?

Love is a philosophy, not an activity.

Telling me what I see is normal human destiny.

There are more vivid colors to the rainbow you don't see

Lavender to purple is the one love-sign for me. 

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 2021