Blind

There are days
after seeing all the beautiful variation in strangers irises

there are days
where I wish that everyone
was blind.

so they would decide to trust someone
based on the gentleness of their touch
rather than their choice in clothing

designer brands would quickly fade
we would wrap ourselves in the most comfortable fabrics
nothing skin tight to show off curves-
no one would be looking, anyway.
me?
I would dress in loose cotton
and everything underneath
would be made of pure silk

I wish that everyone was blind
so they could read with their fingertips
so that the next time they touch the face of their lover
they could understand the messages etched into their weathered skin
by the passing of days

I wish that everyone was blind
so they would be less self conscious of their appearance
solve this mass media binge feeding young girls
with how they should look by the time they're 16
we wouldn't care
we would put all our efforts into making our voices rival those of songbirds
imagine-
instead of trying to act sexy
we could show off our beautiful selves
by singing.

I wish everyone was blind
so that people
might actually
start
listening.

turn their ears to voices that have always been unheard
children who are crying for justice
passionate youth who believe that we can cause change
and of course
all the wonderful poets who wear their hearts in their throats and carry their own soapboxes like thrones

I wish that everyone was blind
because in this visual oriented society
it might result in us
actually learning something about ourselves.