Jim Yerman Poems

I believe in angels...for I see them every day
I might not know them...or I might...as they help me on my way.

They stop...they smile...they listen...they lend a hand...they share...
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Whenever I see a baby...I make the same four wishes my Grandma wished for me...
May you grow up in a compassionate world...where everyone is free...

May you grow up to be healthy...May you grow up to be wise...
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When your heart is filled with joy...you somehow find a way
To smile at the world...and walk in sunshine everyday.

Even when your world is filled with sorrow, with agony and pain
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When you walk amid the darkness...neath a thousand points of light
You understand there's beauty...in the stillness of the night.

And as you watch the transformation of the moon...or waves upon the ocean
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Some days I like to visit...the child I used to be...
Who would ride his bike out in the rain...or climb the highest tree...

Who believed in Santa, saw faces in the clouds...and never wondered why...
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My parents found the perfect way to make me behave on each step of the life I'm notching…they told me whatever I do good or bad to remember…my ancestors are watching.

They said I am the product of many ancestors who were on this Earth before me…and how each ancestor is but one leaf upon our family tree.
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Here is a recent question posed to me that I needed time to think about…
What are the things in this world…I cannot live without?

Looking past food and water…the things my body needs in order to help it thrive…
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I never fought in Vietnam…my parents never had to worry…to fear…to morn…for the simple reason my draft number was connected to the day that I was born.

I sat watching draft numbers being picked…wondering what I was going to do until my birthday draft number was finally called and I was 322.
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There are many of us who say we had nothing to do with the theft of land out from under the Natives who were here before us…that we didn't break any promises, we didn't lie or steal or kill in a massive land-takeover bid….
There are many of us who say we feel no shame, we take no responsibility for those actions…that was something our ancestors did.

There are many of us who say we've never enslaved another person…we've never mistreated, abused or caused another person woe…
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