Pledge of Allegiance (a re-write)
I pledge allegiance
to one planet in the cosmos
to all beings in the universe
to the people of the people of this beautiful melting pot of colors
to my sisters and my brothers
to myself and others
to love
to the freedom to be me
to the belief that everyone can succeed
to the earth, to the sky, and the seas
to show the world the things we can achieve
to accepting differences, courage, equality
to families growing with joy and support
to open minds and open hearts
And to
confidence
determination
to the unyielding pursuit of peace
to the freedom of totters who are different from me
to going for broke
to everlasting hope
to the children, our seeds of the future
With all the love & empathy I can conjure in my heart
-Collaborative poem from the 2015 Artwell Festival and City-wide Imagining