I Am My Neighbour. Poem by Adrian Wait

Spiritual truth is ageless
Words of poets, prophets
Echo down the corridors
We are geographically one
Ours is the tolling bell
Void of passion… the ghosts
Compassion and goodwill
Segregated, identity our priority
The ally of indifference is time
Tomorrow, tomorrow, or someday
Conserve the now, reinforce Me!
Wear a wristband sing a hymn
Dreamwishing for change
The power for control
Who is in, and who is out
Whilst promises remain
Unfulfilled, broken…
When will former things
Pass away, when we feed
The poor, free the oppressed
And no one, no one laughed
Diaries burst with meetings
Conferences, doing not being
Dizzy heights of disengagement
Far from valleys of despair
Engaged in self-development
Practicing the art of listening
But, only to each other
Behind the walls of charity
Built to ensure the difference
In giving we maintain
Power, a sense of well-being
Never far from touchstones
With essays to write
And brown rice to cook
Lipservice to gospels untold
Raising loud our voice for
Our agenda, Our isms
A menu of causes, Life
Liberty and self our pursuit
Disengaged voices so shallow
Sound the death of integrity
Redouble our efforts
When this becomes clear
Offensive defensive we become
Distance compressed in time
We are all aware, yet turn away
Conscience absorbed in silence
When the correct time arrives
We feed our excuse to remain
Disengaged and indifferent
Spiritual truth is ageless
I am my Neighbour.