Cynical, Critical, Yet Compassionate (Rev.) Poem by Margaret Alice

A wet swimsuit to stay cool, nose running,
I’m bored, inadvertently complain I don’t
have a book; you give me “The John Maxwell
Daily Reader” while preparing mushrooms
with cheese on a fire outside

in your underlined book I read leadership
is communication, “be consistent”, I’ve failed
the first test, I’m never that, preferring to blow
with the wind; “be clear, impress with
straightforwardness” – where should I begin?

“Be courteous” – I hate inconsiderate, discourteous
words, “Leaders listen, invite and encourage”
I listen to people even when contradicting one
another, invite poets to send their verse direct,
I can’t chase them on the costly Internet;

encourage involvement by being honest
to my own detriment, “Use discernment”
Maxwell exhorts on page five; people sending
me to their websites for self-promotion, not
honest opinion, respected with discernment…

Maxwell’s page six clincher: “Who you are
determines the way you see everything;
all you are, every experience you’ve had
colours how you see things,
being your lens

The way people see others is a reflection
of themselves” – I classify people as seekers,
kings and princes, dreamers and realists,
atheists and visionaries, all reflecting me -
cynical, critical, yet compassionate…

John C. Maxwell “The Maxwell Daily Reader” Thomas Nelson
2007, pp.4 & 5