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Veracity

Sometimes,

it is difficult

to determine what is true…

even more difficult…

to admit

when we have been misled.

Outright lies,

deceptive advertising,

political spin…

Ever wary,

we yearn for authenticity.

We yearn to trust.

Insincerity,

insinuation,

little white lies,

half-truths,

exaggeration…

Everyday dishonesty erodes trust.

Speaking truth,

we long to be trusted,

but we are met with skepticism.

We wonder why…

Do we all suspect in others

the faults we harbor in ourselves?

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Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

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Mirrored Image

I like my gray hair.

Wrinkles, age spots, double chin…

I don’t like so much!

My mirrored image looks best

when it’s smiling back at me.

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Copyright © 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

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Putin, What Will Your Legacy Be?

How did you use

your position, influence, resources?

Did you exercise your power

to enrich yourself,

to oppress your fellow citizens,

to be above the law?

Or did you use your power

to uplift humanity,

to build a world

with opportunity for all,

to be an example

of integrity and courage?

What will your legacy be?

Will you leave behind

roads, hospitals, universities?

What are you known for…

justice, peace, progress?

Or are you infamous?

Are you the one who

invaded his neighbor,

committed war crimes,

ruined his nation’s economy,

silenced protests and media,

ignored pleas for peace?

Do you think

no one will notice?

Do you think

no one will remember?

Eventually, you will be known

as you truly were!

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Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

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Storm Clouds

Storm clouds

foster fears.

I view this world

through a veil of tears.

Loss of courage,

lack of trust.

Ashes to ashes,

Dust to dust.

Sunbeams

Bright hopes

shine anew.

I view the clouds with

sunlight breaking through.

Summoning courage,

building trust.

Living joyfully

until I’m dust.

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Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

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Can I?

Can I hope?

Can I dream?

Can I believe?

Can I see

the future?

Hope I can.

Dream I can

Believe I can.

See, I can!

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Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

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Egalitarian Utopia

All human beings

individual, unique,

nurture their talents.

Equals working together,

creating a better world.

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Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

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Sunflowers

Sunflowers of Ukraine,

the world turns toward you in admiration

as sunflowers turn toward the sun,

always facing the light.

A president, refusing to retreat to safety,

fighting side-by-side with his fellow citizens,

delivering eloquent messages of brotherhood

in the face of brutal attacks.

Civilians…men, women, and children

shine the light of courage and patriotism

into the darkness

of violence and aggression.

Young and old serve their country

standing in unarmed solidarity

in front of advancing tanks…

Fearless sunflowers!

Citizens making and stockpiling Molotov cocktails.

Civilians, men and women, learning to shoot guns.

People delivering food to brave soldiers…

Patriotic sunflowers!

A little girl giving a Russian soldier an earful and a slap!

The soldier turns and walks away…He knows he is

an unwilling puppet forced to attack his Ukrainian neighbors.

He can see that she’s a sunflower!

Men welding together roadblocks

from scrap metal and rebar.

Women constructing camouflage nets

to conceal Ukrainian tanks!

Babies being born in hospital basements,

into a world of devastated neighborhoods

and schools in ruins…

the tiniest sunflowers!

Ukraine, the nations of the world

stand with you in your fight for freedom.

We mourn with you the loss of loved ones.

We support you.

The sunflowers of Ukraine

shine brightly in this dark time,

always turning their faces toward the light…

Freedom-loving sunflowers!

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Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia

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This Little Boat

In all honesty, man-to-man,

I am rowing this little boat as fast as I can.

Courage, friend, as forward we go.

If you keep bailing as I row,

we may reach the shore, I think,

before our little boat begins to sink.

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Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia