Where do you stand

Where do you stand

Or lazily sit

Are you tacitly, complicit

Or loud and proud

Either way

There are positions to take

Once in a while

Decisions to be made

Which may not be easy

Fences are not always safe seating

Bridges have been known to fall

What do you do

Or say

To a friend

When there is disagreement

Over a joke

When the punchline is cruel

Someone is hurt

Do you share in the laughter

Roll in the aisles

To be one of the gang

Or stand on your own

Raise your head high

Take the brickbats

And opprobrium

Of the bully boy

Rise up

Above the dividing wall

There will be other bridges to build

Open arms are a sign

Of peaceful intent

A smile brings encouragement

A kind word

Breathes forgiveness

Look hate in the eye

Do not turn away

It will blink

Eventually.