Reckless and Pure.

The moment when life shifts,

When one mistake strips a social life to shreds.

The reckless impulse of doubt to quit,

The rubble left from nothing said.

Taught to avoid hate and judge.

The ones who are not easy to love,

The ones who lie steal and use drugs.

The first one to kick punch push and to shove

The one that we face who we do not understand,

The one hopelessly seeking relief in his dread.

The piece of humanity that wants to but cant.

The one on a path that most would not dare to tread

Judged and shamed are the afflicted

Hurt and saddened are the souls,

They are hated for being alive, for this kind of treatment

What purpose is served, I wonder what is the goal.

To look with compassion,

Through to the heart,

No matter the surface,

That's where we start.

To sit with the smallest

Rather than to turn a blind eye to the need

To stop and reach out

To remind them they matter,

More than our own selfish greed.

By: Teresa Lee Landreth.