to anyone in the atmosphere, 

i still feel small 

when i look up at the stars

standing in front of the ocean at dusk 

in the seat of an airplane as the sky paints herself for the day

driving on the interstate

gawking at how small 

the wild world i live in looks 

from the outside looking in 

with its extremes 

of speed and stillness 

and i wonder 

"how can hate persist" 

when we are all merely specs 

on the surface of something 

far greater than ourselves

defenseless to the nature of the world 

we won't admit it, 

but we were meant to be united 

do we really think all of this fighting 

will lead to a resolution? 

or will it only delay the next war? 

on race. 

on sexuality.

on religion. 

on humanity. 

on control. 

existentially, we cannot avoid death

so why are we avoiding life 

by trying to make the lives of others miserable? 

instead, 

let's love all that we can 

and try to understand 

the things 

and people 

that we find hard to love. 

my dear, 

love is a fire continuosly burning 

and it's all we need to warm the world 

so let it burn.