One may only see a social pariah

useless to the glorious efforts of a political messiah

another may see the beautiful soul

living just beneath that unwashed skin

One may only see a community failing

a victim to the indifference within

another may see the golden opportunities

that lurk just beneath that dusty ruin

One may only see the headlines of fear

and huddle in the basement of their own company

another may discover a world just beyond what they hear

the gentle whispers that continue despite the raging sea

an invitation to go out swimming in that living water

the still small voice that asks us to look at the bigger picture

that sky full of stars laughing at the efforts of the night

all the colors dancing during the rite of dawn

as the sun rises, galloping into a one-sided fight

still, one may only see a chaos artist

someone painting the world in madness

while another may fix their eyes on the light

that will free us from our blindness