wishes

I wish the women in my life
vibrant and alive, one and all
would see themselves to be
as radiant as I see them

I wish everyone who feels shamed
for being older than the magazines
would look at their beautiful, well-loved hands
and see how many lives they have touched

I wish the friends who doubt their actions
and wonder if they will carry the day
would see themselves as competent
and stand up, today, just a bit straighter

I wish the children who sit alone
because they are different
would rise up and shout
look at me, I am glorious

I wish the old man
standing on the corner
had a son to come
and gently lead him home

I wish all the horror
and pain of the world
would vanish
and joy would flood our hearts

I wish that I did not have to ever
wish any of these wishes