There is so much conflict in the world. I don’t mean only the major ones we hear about, like wars, but those smaller ones, not always erupting in violence

Xenophobia

People hate foreigners. I wonder why?
Do they not live, and like us they die?
Imagine you lived somewhere that
A bomb might anytime knock your home flat.
Just think about all the things you would do
If the government thought they would kill you
Just because you disagree with them.
And without a trial you they condemn.

Imagine a place for years without rain.
Your crops have all failed, again and again.
You watch as all your animals die
And, head in your hands, hear your children cry.
You cannot feed them. You have nothing left
To give them, so you feel bereft.
You watch as they get sick and they die.
And wonder, but no one can say why.

But there are lands where there is no war,
Where food is accessible, and there is law.
No one will come in the night and take
Your daughters away with them, to rape.
No bombs will land on your home. If you could
Would you not leave all behind where it stood?
So let us not hate these people who flee
Such terrible lives so they can be free.

This is a poem I’ve not yet published. I am trying to write a poem a day for a year with the hope of publishing it in two parts–January to June, and July to December. I hope to get the first part published in time for Christmas so people can begin to read a poem a day in January.

If you are interested in reading more of my poetry, I have a poetry book already published. It’s called Miscellaneous Thoughts and has poetry of many types and subjects. It can be bought from your favourite store in several formats: ebook, paperback, hardback. Click on the book title to go to your favourite online store to find out more, and buy.

Or you can go to Next Chapter’s Independent bookstore by clicking here.