ON CHILDREN, HOPE

On children do our hopes depend,
Our better virtues to defend;
But poor examples are we all,
Such evil ethics we install.

With hate and prejudice deride,
No effort to our anger hide;
All "others" face our ridicule,
To every bias add some fuel.

So thus does fear proliferate,
For fear begets its store of hate;
So race or creed will oft be used,
Immoral actions are excused.

Beware of would be potentate,
Who tries to lead by fear and hate.

Sol Finkelman