by shaun lawton
Change your mindset, learn to adapt
Appearances are never what they seem
That's why, whenever we're feeling trapped
Human beings like to dream
When we're repeatedly drawn toward news
With the battle lines marked in the sand
Making it seem like we have to choose
Just remember our nation's last stand
Was the night before and the day before that
To be in agreement is not in the scheme
Because the fire that keeps us united
Remains part and parcel of our theme
Keeping the state of things perpetually molten
To be shaped to our needs every new day
So just as soon as you feel your mind revolt
From poised and perfect balance, listen here:
Remember there's one thing we all can do
Repeat after me, "What was it they said about opinions?
And that thing about keeping an open mind, too?"
We all have the choice to rise above our dominions
So long as we're true to ourselves without any fuss
Making our decisions without having to shout
"Have a little faith in one another because
Things have a way of working themselves out—
—We don't actually need to see eye to eye,"
For a country divided is by definition united
Even if that's something we can't recognize
Don't let ourselves get exasperated
There's plenty left over for us to be delighted
The world may be an oyster, but this land is our cup
The workers we employ have all been invited
To keep this grail of ours filling up
All the good our country has done can get blurred
Over time in our minds until it just seems absurd
That's why we remind ourselves, "take a deep breath."
Everything's happening naturally and gaining force
If you start thinking outside the box you'll see our course
Flows onward in a process of constant checks from each side
Regardless of our opinions, we're here together on this ride
Ask yourselves just once each and every day
"Just what are we going to do about it?"
It's up to each one of us who confronts their own ego
To reprioritize what we hang onto and choose to let go
I'll give you a hint even as it's strewn through this verse
There's no mistaking how to prevent things from getting worse:
This picture we've each formed remains all in our own mind
We mistake this assembly for a "truth" we can find
When in irrefutable reality there's always a bigger picture
We can't ever see clearly due to our own perception's stricture
Until we each realize that the so called "problem out there"
Remains a perpetual illusion caused by our brain's software
And the actual dilemma facing each one of us stares back
From the mirror every morning we reload for a fresh attack
The least we can do for each other is admit it:
We thrive on discordance, contention and strife
It's the fuel that keeps driving us forward in life!
So with that spirit of America we forged not long ago
I raise up my glass just to offer this toast:
"Here's to my enemies and those on the other side
Cheers to your energy, spirit and drive; for without you,
At least I am willing to testify, we would have lost long ago
And been swallowed by the tides of a relentless world
That needs us exactly as much to live on this Earth side by side
Just to keep fueling that fire which keeps us all alive."
for Peter Herman 