In his fourth volume of poetry the author, Jon Lobdell, explores how to be compassionate to others, given all our fears and prejudices. In a poem about the homeless he reveals how once, “my petty mind has fallen into my heart.” In another poem he gives a recipe for remaining sane in this crazy world.

I shove away the news of the world
in order to write,
Then I let it back in on my terms.
Wars will be balanced
by the mercy of a flowing creek
Hate will be transformed
by the breath of roses
The crows will, in no uncertain terms,
tell us hope lives
with the sun above the clouds
This is how I remain sane