Simple Kindness

When I grow up, I’d like to be
in charge of the world, or maybe a tree.
It would be such fun to climb to the top,
sway in the wind and then perhaps drop
down through the branches and onto the ground,
lay there in silence, not making a sound
as I counted the blades of sweet, green grass
while circus elephants lumbered past.

I wonder which would be more fun,
running the world or soaking up sun
in a place where zebras have purple stripes
and very small clowns ride very small bikes.
Yes, when I grow up I’d like to be
the very best version of the very best me.

What do you think you’d like to be?
My friend replied: “Well, let me see.
I have no interest in ruling the earth,
my banker said I have no net worth.
I don’t aspire to leadership posts,
although I’m quite good at offering toasts.
Rule the world? No. No. Not me.
There’s only one thing that I want to be.
It’s the desire of both my heart and my mind.
Everyday of my life I want to be kind.”

That’s it. That’s all I want to be.
I’d like to wake up tomorrow and see
lions and lambs asleep, side by side,
love replace our contentious pride.
What if we all used our minds
to think of ten ways to simply be kind?