Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z
CONTENTS WORDS FOR A BETTER WORLD 7 ACCEPTANCE 8 10 ALLY BELONGING 12 14 COMPASSION COURAGE 16 18 CREATE 20 DIALOGUE 22 DIVERSITY DREAM 24 EMPATHY 28 EQUALITY 30 EXERCISE 32 EXPERIMENT 34 36 FORGIVENESS FREEDOM 38 FUEL 40 GRATITUDE 42 EPITAPH FOR HATE 44 HOPE 46 HUMILITY 48 INTENTION 50 JUSTICE 52 KINDNESS 54 56 LAUGHTER LISTEN 58 LOVE 60 MINDFULNESS 62
Irene Latham wrote the poems with red titles Charles Waters wrote the poems with blue titles The poets jointly wrote the poems with purple titles NATURE 64 NETIQUETTE 66 OPEN 68 70 PAUSE 72 PEACE 74 QUESTION REACH 76 RELEASE 78 RESPECT 80 SERVICE 82 SHERO 84 TEAM 86 TENACITY 88 90 UPSTANDER 92 VOICE VULNERABLE 96 98 BEAR WITNESS 100 WONDER 102 XENIAL YES 104 106 ZEST 108 THE ETYMOLOGY OF PROGRESS AUTHORS NOTE 110 BOOKS POEMS AND SPEECH REFERENCED 112 ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED BOOKS 113 POETRY RESOURCES 115 INDEX OF POETIC FORMS GRATITUDE LIST 116 117 ADDITIONAL GRATITUDE 118
Words For A Better World awash in attempts to help cool our fevered world we Begin simply with words We savor syllables Consider history and meaning We forge ahead with Determination trying to do what’s right though Each step is filled with uncertainty For what is more powerful more dangerous than words What Gathers us divides us like these letters and how we arrange them How can we use words to improve ourselves and inspire Mindfulness In the hearts of others without perpetuating fears misunderstandings Just try a small voice whispers So we listen and share We ponder Karma and Courage Tenacity and Hope We unspool our Lives remembering triumphs and failures We write Making poems that celebrate Acceptance Freedom Respect building each Necessary step to show more Compassion and Gratitude Our stories put a spotlight on making friends and losing them About Past mistakes and what we’re learning In this never-ending Quest to change the world we challenge ourselves with new forms Roundel cherita limerick shadorma We abandon our complacency Search within ourselves for how to be changemakers not Thinking we have all the answers Now we listen to opposing views with an Open spirit Understanding takes time We must be patient as our new Vocabulary takes root trusting that change will one day bloom We’re unsure yet willing to bring our authentic selves to you not some Xeroxed copy of who we wish to be This is our moment Please join us You can start with any word you choose Read with Empathy and Zest Zoom into each new moment ready to bring your best self to the world Abecedarian each line or stanza begins with the first letter of the alphabet and continues with letters in successive order 7
