Ruth Walters (London, U.K.)

It isn't the black and white of it that tells you,
illuminates the picture, gives it depth.
It's the greys,


and when you want to learn the truth,
the meaning to the shallow tale,
look behind the door.

It isn't the straight forward facts
that illustrate the how or why or pain
or what goes on, its the greys

and unless you've been cocooned, you'll see,
it isn't smug, self righteous, good
that teaches us to empathise,

we learn by our mistakes.