A View in the Mirror, The Friendly Giant (2 Poems)

A View in the Mirror

I am the way that I am... and you are only you. 
There never has nor never will be any others like us two. 
Many things that's we've been told, 
They really hardly matter; 
They serve to hurt or separate, or lie or slightly flatter. 
Useless groups that people join 
And dearly pay the price; 
Some are only cheaters and some are not quite nice. 
Your race or nationality, 
Your age or height or gender; 
Whether you eat red meat 
Or put veggies in a blender... 
It doesn't really matter, it's all a silly game; 
We're all two-legged animals and rather much the same. 
We all behave the way we do for many different reasons; 
And that behavior seldom changes, 
As constant as the seasons. 
Hold a mirror to your face and tell me what you see; 
You see yourself, that's all there is. 
When I look... I see me. 
We can not be what we are not, 
Through someone else's eyes; 
To view another through our own mirror, is seldom very wise. 
I accept who I am and I know that I'm not you; 
No more than you can expect to see... 
Me, through your own view. 
That's why manipulation and fear are often used; 
To force someone to be another... serves only to abuse.

"Why must you be so different... 
Why can't you be like me?!"

"Because I'm not... I am my self, 
And my self is what I shall be!"

The Friendly Giant

Where does the friendly giant hide 
In this land of thoughtless pygmies? 
Where does Santa land his sleigh 
In a land of "gimme, gimme"?

Where does a bee seek nectar 
In a land of artificial flowers? 
How can one lead a stable life 
In a land of shifting hours?

Where can a ray of sunshine fall 
In a room where shades are drawn? 
Where can a thoughtful person thrive 
In a land so filled with brawn?

Where does the artist's eye find beauty 
In a land now ugly and bland? 
Where does the fish find a stream to swim 
In a land of arid sand?

Where does a man find honesty 
In a land where nothing is fair? 
Where does a tree grow tall and green 
In a land of poisoned air?

Where does the pioneer travel 
In lands where the borders are closed? 
Where does the minstrel sing his songs 
in a land where deafness grows?

Where does the craftsman sell his skill 
In a land of dubious wares? 
Where does the poet write the tender lines 
In a land where no one cares?

Where does a child learn to laugh 
In a land of frowns and sorrows? 
Where does the star man spin his tales 
In a land where there's no tomorrow?

Where does the giant hang his head 
In despair and utter sadness? 
He lives in a land that knows no joy 
And has chosen instead, sheer madness.

Diana Hunter McGuerty has been a teacher for over 35 years and a lifetime poet.

Diana's first published poetry book is titled Many Shades of Light: Reflections in Poetry

Diana's poetry book and other poetry can be found at: http://www.michaelmcguerty.com/shop/pagez/9?sessid=ULDtkQ6XugGZ3BWb0oLpnjYM9Wqs5NJlQJ7g6tz1pGerDLTwRe3KYwXSFIVcHkKV&shop_param=