There was a wonderful older man on the Island Named "Mac", I never learned what his real name was or why he was in prison.  He had been there for several years before I met him.    Mac was very supportive and a caring person.  We were talking about my poetry one afternoon and I, jokingly, made the comment that with a little effort I could produce a poem on any subject.  Mac took that as a challenge and gave me an assignment to write a poem about the changes the world needs to bring peace.  I had to think on it for two weeks then wrote the poem, "Changed Perceptions."  Mac cried when he read it.  This will always be his poem.

CHANGED PERCEPTIONS

Sometimes nations can be like men,
They shout and argue and fight, but then,

Unlike man and the way he lives,

A nation will never say, "I forgive."

After fights or hostile silence,

Supposing nations, instead of violence,

Would look at the world and learn to give,

That first step to peace, saying, "I forgive."

A world at peace, that is the plan,

It's time for nations to understand,

The need of  people, what they're worth.

To know we're stewards of spaceship earth.

Think of the earth from out in space,

The land, the seas are a beautiful place.

And from out in space you will see,

no lines or borders, the way it should be.

This is how the word should be,

No line of division that you can see,

Ideas and plans with each other to share,

To see how important for us to care.

Everyone knows how good it would be,

For all to be neighbors, you and me.

And the greatest gift that we can give,

Is to say, with love, "I forgive."

Start with each other, no need to fear it,

Soon we will know we are one in Spirit.

And when we have that sense of one,

We'll know our task is almost done.

A planet of peace tomorrow will bring,

A loving place and the people will sing,

songs of the wonderful time to be,

For peace on earth,

begins with me.

R.M. Livingston  9/90 MICC