Ten-Thousand Things

There are ten-thousand things I cannot do,
And then ten-thousand more.

So I write.
I call to the birds,
Toss the ball to the dog,
And laugh with family,
While the list grows—
Ten-thousand more.

So I stop
The bullet of hate
From piercing my own heart,
So it may not pierce yours.
While the list grows—
Ten-thousand more. 

So I stop
The sword of violence
With my words,
My votes,
My cash,
So it may melt to shovel earth—
To plant peace for generations.
While the list grows—
Ten-thousand more.

So I let
My words, my life, my work
Fill the broken cracks.
Fill all the broken cracks—
Fill each and every crack
While the list grows.