Painted Life

paintings are like poems    
they all have a story to tell    
some of them are hopeful    
some are filled with hurt    
   
each in a different color    
in a different style or size    
just like humans they are    
enriched with variations    
   
born in various countries    
we all must share a planet    
some of us live in freedom    
but not everyone is lucky    
   
many are born in poverty    
in areas which are not safe    
survival is the harsh reality    
until all they can do is flee    
   
their voices must be heard    
by people all over the world    
cruel stories of fear and war    
of lives shredded to pieces    
   
if we all would just listen    
and stop turning our heads    
from lives that long for help    
& stories that must be told