If I believed

Published 11:06 pm Wednesday, July 27, 2016

If I believed

Marilyn Wheeless, Kenai

If I believed I would have to live the rest of my life

Crouching behind windows peeping out at my world

In fear.

If I believed my country, my city, my village

Had to be isolated from every other village, or city,

Or country in fear.

If I believed I could only be safe by pointing a gun at

My neighbor, my friend, my family because

I was afraid.

If I believed instead of bridges, walls had to be

Built between races, religions, or differently oriented

People hidden behind this wall or that wall in fear.

If I believed the hate message instead of the hope message,

That there would be no chance, no opportunity, no

Optimism, just fear.

If I believed the messages I heard, if I let those messages

Own me, control me, squash me in constant fear,

Then, if I believed, why would I want to live?