Life is Good When…
Life is good when children smile, their bellies full.
Life is good when girls play rough-and-tumble
after their tea party.
When boys are allowed to cry without ridicule…
Life is good when all folks have a home, however humble,
with food on the table and friends to share it.
When community clinics offer free health care
to those who need it most: addicts, women facing choices
that men don’t think twice about, prenatal care for those
who choose motherhood, help for those who don’t…
Life is good when handguns are melted to forge plows.
When women can wear hijabs and not encounter
disapproving looks from unveiled Anglos.
When Mom can choose to stay home because Dad
makes enough and has Union protections, or when
Mom decides the kids are all in school and can work
at something that exercises her mind and passion…
Life is good when the Christmas tree has more ornaments
on the tree than overpriced Chinese- made toys under it.
When the family gave more to charity than to Wal-Mart…
Life is good when every couple can hold hands and love
their lives together without condemnation from straights.
Life is good when the National Guard is back on US soil
and enlisted troops are all home, receiving VA care and
using their GI benefits to get an education…
We’re waiting for the day when life is good.
Until then, this dream is brought to you by your sponsor,
the Creator, who reminds us all that life is a gift…
use it wisely and with love.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Sunday Scribblings, an alternate take on “Life is Good.” Also at my poetic heart and hearth, Poets United.
Sharp Little Pencil 
booguloo
Excellent reminder. Good prayer for thanksgiving this year.
Sharp Little Pencil
You’ve touched on a wonderful point there, Michael. Thank you for the reminder! PEACE, Amy
Sue
Lovely, Amy, in its poignancy. Have a peaceful holiday.
Sue
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sue. We’ll be back soon! Glad you stopped by… Peace, Amy
Debbie
Powerful poem, Amy. Thank you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Debbie. When the prompt is “Life is good” and you come up with a “to-do” list, I guess that’s my approach to life… Amy
Inside the Mind of Isadora
A lot of things are misssing in the good life. Looks like there’s work to be done.
Hugs,
Izzy
Sharp Little Pencil
Yeah, Izzy, like I said to Debbie, my natural response was a “to do” list. We’ll all have to keep at it! xo, Amer
Nanka
That is a long list and if they get the status of being true then life is really really good!! Blissful!!
You have put in much thought here and I loved this line the best!!
“Life is good when handguns are melted to forge plows.”
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, Nanka, would that not be a wonderful day, when the metal is smelted into something useful! Peace, Amy
MiskMask
Wow, Amy. So much to think about, just like all the choices you’ve mentioned that we often take for granted. Very nice.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Misk. Enjoyed your interview at Poetic Bloomings!! And yes, we take a lot for granted, you’re right… Peace, Amy
sandra
wisely and with love…!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog; that was a very welcome comment! Headed your way now… peace, Amy
Poetry & Icecream
Wow Amy, powerful and thought provoking! This is the world I dream of too….if only hey? You’ve got some excellent lines in here, “When the family gave more to charity than to Wal-Mart” and “Life is good when handguns are melted to forge plows” and “Life is good when the Christmas tree has more ornaments
on the tree than overpriced Chinese- made toys under it.” I love the last stanza “brought to you by your sponsor, the Creator,” it reenforces the message. Well done!!!! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Norma! So glad these lines stirred up something for you and in you. The last line was put in when I transferred my manuscript from handwritten to computer… so glad the thought came to me, because it does add some punch. Thanks again, Amy
Jae Rose
A sponsor..up above..I love that thought..s/he can be whatever..but they keep you going..seeing little things that are good..Jae x
Sharp Little Pencil
Yep, that’s how I saw the Creator in this poem. “Brought to you by” was a common phrase on old TV and radio shows… xxoo Amy
christine
We had this idea after spending a week at MEDA, that next year we forgo the Christmas spending and travel down to Pennsylvania and volunteer a week at MCC helping others, it will cost us money to do for others, and something far greater for our children to witness than stuff under the tree. Life is good when we give ourselves to things other than selfish wants, wonderful write Amy
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Christine. Yours is a great idea! I’m going with a group to New Orleans in Jan. for Habitat. Usually at Christmas we give only one gift, to the Heifer Project, in honor of our families and friends. This year I think we will give closer to home, because there is so much need here. Ironic that we still have billions to wage war, but there are people starving right here in town. Thanks for your truly wonderful, affirming comments, Christine. Peace, Amy
zongrik
good list
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks! Would that it came true. It’s up to all of us! Amy
wolfsrosebud
A hardy ‘Amen’… life is good
Sharp Little Pencil
Still waiting for better days, though, for others! Thanks, Patricia! Amy