In my life time I have said yes Ma'am and no Ma'am

Yes Sir and no Sir

to more people whom I didn't know their names

than those I did

I have showed respect to more elders  I'm not related to

than those I am

and I have listen to more stories ,

asked more questions

took more directions

in a salty mood

from and elder I wasn't related too

only because their are more people in the world I'm not related to

and I feel it's important to have a cosmopolitan view

I hang out with the older generation

because their wisdom  is the jewel

proved because they stand before me and you

composed of stories of living through

So!

Why is the obvious oblivious

and we have a generation

that doesn't understand the concept of us

from birth until we become a cog in the wheel of society

of a working adult responsibility

every thing we recieve, have, use or abuse

is passed down from one generation to the next

Every elder has paid a price for the next generation to survive

and the tears in my eyes are there because

I have to explain the obvious to a spoiled brat full of selfishness and arrogance

disrespecting love with  temper tantrums suffering lack of self consciousness

from the day a child is concieved the debt to the elders begins

Your mother, father, neither or both ate to feed your fetus

and the debts grows from the farmer, packer, transporter,

dock worker who recieved the goods,

the stock worker who shelved the goods,

the cashier who sold your mother the food,

the mint workers who created the money we use.

Every facet of society is maintained by adults for children

your mother, father, niether or both

may have been your direct access to your needs

but there have been billions of people

collectively responsible for eveything

you recieve, have, use or abuse

and the pain in my heart is for a generation I have to explain this to

respect your elders

because they took care of you before you could take care of your self. 

Who cleaned the delivery room you were born in?

whowas/is the parking attendant, the security guard,

that woman or man who died in a war protectin your freedoms?

who manufactured the car, bus, bicycle, tricycle or sidewalks you used for transportation?

Who built the house you live in: the school you go to?

Who taught the teacher who taught you?

all these people have provided life for you

99 perecent of eveything you will ever have, recieve, use or abuse

Somebody you don't know and  may never meet

gave of their time, breath and life giving us their works

left behind so eveything in the skyline is how adults become elders

and died for others

Nobody can point to any one person for humanity

collectively we maintain all that we share.

love your neighbor as you love yor self

so lofty words we preach to

"live contradictions with conflicting convictions"(Maximus Parthis)

so many people confuse knowledge with under standing,

speaking a truth isn't understanding,

your hearts will is proven when tested,

if you bite the hand that feeds you when you don't get your way

Proof is in the pudding 

the words you say blow away like the wind

and your foundation is built on sand.

As a young man, me and my friend would cipher about this truth

but now in these times it seems like

God has hardened the hearts of our youth and the truth has no value

ignorant of what is common between people

critisizing differences attacking images impatince blinding common sense

to sense or be aware of what connects us all

united we stand an together we fall

Sodom and Gomorah living evil ways

and none of us is perfect but unfortunately we can say

The world is worse in this day

So every day I pray

for those that hate me

for those who hate love

for those who find it easier to disagree than agree

for those who have eyes but can't see we

for those who peace is angry

for those curse to express love

as I cry in a pain of joy

because I love even those I have to let go

like Lot's wife after disrespecting God's direction

our parent figure

leading us in the direction of freedom

like every person before the next to come

pathed the way for more to come

and like my example

I live by going forward and not looking back

peace love and respect

Priest