I see a red balloon drift across the smoke soaked sky

how do we measure Love?

with kisses and hugs

with sweet I Love you’s

written on post it notes,

shot from the heart.

or through books

with poems by Neruda and Cohen

written with passion and burning pain

the kind that makes your eyes tear

and your heart both long and fear.

or

zoom the lens out

shout Love from the hilltops

for the world to hear

above the mothers’ crosses

and fathers’ silent tears.

do

keep yelling

above the whistles from rocket shells

and crashing bells

above the last breath of innocent hearts

that stop beating

so soon after they start

LOVE LOVE LOVE how we fear it!

Demand

Love for women

Love for men

Love for old ladies

Love for old men

Love for thy neighbor and for thy self.

Love for strangers, both young and old

Love for children, their stories waiting to take hold

Love for the other, as frightening as it may seem

better to let Love flow like rain

rather than to let fear reign.

a child sees the red balloon way up high

innocent

her hearts will pay the price

for a century of missteps

that fosters divide.

the rumbling of metal,

shaking dirt,

dust from the concrete that is hurt,

smudge of black running down her face,

the thickness of blood on grandma’s veil made of black lace.

i see a red balloon drift across the smoke soaked sky

carrying the wishes of young, divine, hearts

wishing for freedom

freedom from fear

freedom to dream

freedom to be

freedom to Love.