I Am Woke Poem by Randy McClave

The words that they said to me I took as kind
When they told me that I had a woke mind,
Yes, my mind is indeed woke
To what I have seen and what I have heard and spoke.
I read books and I don't ever burn them
From many of them I sometimes sing a hymn,
From other books I have been given new ideals
On how the body mends, and how the soul heals.
I truly and deeply embrace science
Against it I have no argument or defiance,
Science is both life and it is also of truth
And God created it, and I know that as my proof.
I am willing to change my mind when new information becomes available
As long as there is truth placed on the table,
I stand for the truth and I will not stand for false information
That is my proudest foundation.
I understand that most issues are not black or white
Not everything known or seen is truly wrong or right,
Sometimes issues must me placed under a microscope
So, we can understand it after a good wash with water and soap.
I believe in true equality for every person
Not just the ones who screams and who is cursin,
No person is ever born better than any other
In the end when we stand before God we are someone's sister or brother.
I have true empathy
For all, I will give them my sympathy,
For all I will give them my love and hopes and care
And for all I will always give a prayer.
I embrace cooperation
Around the country and across every known nation,
No matter of the language or even of the belief
We should always want to help to give relief.
I respect other persons rights
All that they hold and support sternly in their sights,
I am better than no one and no one is better than me
And I respect their rights no matter what it might be.
I believe that culture and the arts have true spiritual and social value
It's not just for the select, but also for me and you,
Culture and the arts opens the mind's seams
They are created by love and hope and dreams.
I care for our planet
And because of that fact I will not deny it,
For her to survive and carry on there is just one solution
We must combat climate change and stop pollution.
Others might see or treat my beliefs as a laugh
When I walk down a different path,
Yes, heavy indeed is my yoke
And yes, my mind is truly woke.

Randy L.McClave