Walked back in time today
to many years ago
down a long gray hallway
past too many closed doors
what’s on the other side
young faces
not that different
from yours
or mine

Walked back in time today
Saw a child crying
in the hall
hiding behind a wall
kids walking
away
laughing

Be Kind
to the broken-hearted
to the ones who
seem different than you and me
to the ones who
are shorter or taller
to the ones with holes
in their clothes

Be Kind
to the undefended
to the ones who
everyone hates
to the ones who
we distance ourselves from
for fear that
the crowd could
choose us
to hate

Walked back in time today
and did things different
than I did so long ago

Reached out to the ones forgotten
Reached out to the ones in need
Reached out to the undefended
Reached out to the broken-hearted
Reached out to the ones
who seemed so different
long ago

And found
myself reaching out
to someone just
like me

By Travelers on the Back Roads

By  Michael Traveler, author/poet

Here is a link to his Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/TravelerOntheBackroads/