THE WELCOME

Leave your shoes at the door.

Not because these are clean floors

There is a reason that means so much more.

Welcome to my home, welcome to my life

Respect is given at the doorsteps; that is what you will find

The honor you receive from me is a privilege, not a right

Who knows where you walked or where you been

No matter the path you take, there is no end

You walk it alone even if you are with friends 

Welcome to my home, welcome to my life

Rest from your travels; you must be emotionally tired.

Memories of the past are lost in ignorance fire.

We look for truth out of lies; we look for facts out of feelings

In this recent reality, many of us wish we were dreaming

Injustice pressed to the back of the neck this is why we are kneeling 

Welcome to my home, welcome to my life

Tell me of your journey I will tell you of mine

To find where our paths have crossed in the night.

These emotions coming and going like the wind is always blowing

Wondering what one finds its way out with words and tears

This is why confidence is a struggle for me when I can not see

Welcome to my home, welcome to my life

Look for acceptance for who I am and for who I could be

Our struggles might be different, but I still empathize with you.  

©Copyright Thomas J. Dooley 2021

DALITS

What is it in me that makes your perception of me

Why is including me just a means of excluding me

Is it I am not worthy of God's kiss because of this?

*Dalits is how I feel buried under these feeling

I dream of peace, love, and purity

But no one sees that in me

The list of my faults are long

I check the long list to try to change them all

But it is you that I wronged as my list goes on

Dalits is how I feel buried in the silence of unforgiven 

But asking forgiveness is just a sin

But this is how I know my place just to fit in

No matter where I place my shoes, no matter where I sit

I look inside for my own forgiveness, but how do I do this

When anyone sees my struggles, they are pushed back on me

Dalits is how I feel buried under the sweepings of leftover life.

Living in the night always wrong, never right

Proudly claiming the last place inline

No matter what I do, it is never good enough

When done with so much care and love

Alone I hear the father's wisdom as the forgotten son.

Dalits is how I feel buried under blocks of guilt.

Used to build a wall of silence shut off from the guidance

The respect I give the respect I receive is like tasteless *sabjiyaan 

©Copyright Thomas J. Dooley 2021

*Dalits the lost caste in Indian culture

*Hindi for vegetables 

NOTES:

 

 

 

YUSRA

Is the wall to high

I will never know if I don't try climb

Do I crawl or just lay here and die
All of my problems are in my mind

Yusra walked into my life with her Parisian sweetness
She told me her struggles, I told her mine
Can only feel comfortable in the light

Walking this life alone with so much noise
So much to do so much to prove that is if I am in the mood
Form the radio comes that lavender song
It makes your inspiration so strong

Yusra walked in with that Arabian sent in my travels I will never forget
She is exotic and beige there isn't any more I can say
Her beauty in the pages my mind she is a centerfold

Life might have its problems and some times we stumble
The meaning of your name survives all the challenges

©Copyright Thomas Dooley 2020