I Wish I Could Fix the World

A poem written in 2016.

I wish I could fix the world
all the people in it.
I wish I could fix the hurt,
the sorrowing,
the suffering.
I wish I could make
the best decisions,
for all the people in it.
So that they wouldn’t hurt;
themselves or others.
So that they could be happy,
and trusting,
and free.

But I cannot,
I cannot fix the world,
or any person in it.
I cannot fix the hurt;
only love,
and have compassion.
I cannot make
their decisions for them,
no matter how much
I might wish it.
I cannot keep them from hurting
others or themselves.
I cannot make them happy,
trusting
or carefree.

I cannot fix the world,
or the people in it.
I can only fix myself,
and that, not all alone.
I can only show love
to all the people in it:
this broken world of ours.