Not By A Long Shot

If it’s going to be,
it depends on me.
I am a responsible man.
I cannot look the other way.
I will not turn and walk away.
I’ll not ignore what others say.
For too long I’ve pretended everything’s OK.
But it’s not.
By a long shot.
Hate destroys from the inside out.
It will no longer be allowed to tout
its strength and power over decency.
There will be no peace, it’s plain to see
as long as hate demands to be
the arbiter of life.
If truth and justice are going to be,
then I think a lot depends on me.
So I say this aloud for all to hear.
The time has come to make this clear:
For too long we’ve pretended everything’s OK,
but it’s not,
by a long shot.
And if it’s going to be
it depends on me.
And you.

(Acknowledgement to Wm. H. Johnsen for the first two lines of this poem)