<p>A Call for Courage</p> <p>A poem by Zen Honeycutt</p> <p><br></p> <p>This is a call for courage</p> <p>To speak up,</p> <p>Speak out,</p> <p>Live large,</p> <p>Live loud.</p> <p>Not in fear and anger,</p> <p>Not to condemn in a crowd,</p> <p>But standing out as one,</p> <p>against all odds,</p> <p>with courageous compassion.</p> <p>A passion so great for freedom, health, and joy,</p> <p>That the corruption is unveiled as a profitable ploy.</p> <p>The light is seen by a few who dare to lift the curtain,</p> <p>Who dare to risk their reputation</p> <p>for the right for others to have a future.</p> <p>Then it happens.</p> <p>The truth seeps into the shadows of silence,</p> <p>The voices of millions calling for fearful measures</p> <p>begin to quiet.</p> <p>And they listen, slowly...</p> <p>To the tiny possibility of another way</p> <p>Another day in the future where freedom may spark joy</p> <p>The someday that becomes synonymous with hope</p> <p>That brings action;</p> <p>fasting from the fast food nation,</p> <p>false information,</p> <p>Mandates and mindless restrictions.</p> <p>The toxic treadmill of chemical cocktails</p> <p>And corruption...</p> <p>We extract ourselves from the web</p> <p>like a dragonfly who refuses to lose her magnificent iridescence,</p> <p>And we shine.</p> <p>And others shine in our presence.</p> <p>We are weaned from the addiction of quick, fast, cheap, and easy</p> <p>We look for slow, real, crafted, quality.</p> <p>We look for others who grow,</p> <p>Makers, and doers, fixers, and huggers.</p> <p>And soon we see others.</p> <p>We find ourselves igniting the conversations that turn ears,</p> <p>heads bob and nod,</p> <p>Warm bodies move closer,</p> <p>and neighbors lean in.</p> <p>We are connected again.</p> <p>Restoring our relationships on our street.</p> <p>Meeting those we once feared to meet.</p> <p>Finding common ground</p> <p>with uncommon agreement:</p> <p>innate love of life</p> <p>joy for all.</p> <p>And we answer the call...</p> <p>How are we going to create from this day forth?</p> <p><br></p> <p><br></p> <p>www.zenhoneycutt.com</p> <p>www.momsacrossamerica.org</p>