Poem: "Be Kind, That's What my Mother Taught"

Be kind, that's what my mother taught
Though she sometimes beat me down
But marathon runners also smoke
And circus clowns frown.

Be kind, my mother said to me
Be good for goodness’ sake
Though she raked me over coals sometimes
For childhood mistakes.

Be kind my mother pushed on me
Though I'd sometimes watch her rage
And use grown-up words I didn't get
At least not at that age.

Be kind I am, be kind I was
The kind I'll always be
Hold tight to all the good that was
Not negativity.