POETRY

No matter when and where

We are born or raised

Two visions hold our attention

These are fear and love
 

Those who promote fear

Urge us to put bigger locks on our doors

They want more cops on the streets

And more defense spending

They want to build better walls and borders

They are suspicious of others

They appeal to our irrational instincts

They want us to close ourselves off
 

Those who promote love

Instead, see all of us as one

They embrace everyone

They believe in others

They can put themselves in their shoes

They are hopeful and trusting

They want to feed and educate humanity

Excluding no one

They want us to open our hearts
 

Which voice we listen to, is partly our choice

Or it may already be determined

By our character and psychology

-Rotterdam, Netherlands