When the world is full of hate; bring love

Over the last few days there have been riots on streets led by far right groups who want to spread hatred and division.

I can't hold onto the fear and shock that I'm feeling and so I have turned to creativity to help me process it all. I hope that these fabric hearts and series of poems bring love and peace to all of you.

When the world is full of hate,

bring love

a whisper on windworn lips,

a quiet bloom amid thorns.

In crowded streets where shadows loom,

let laughter spill like sunlight,

warm and golden;

every smile a seed planted in concrete jungles,

rooting deep against despair.

When anger roars and fists collide,

stand firm as ancient oaks,

not to fight,

but to shelter those who tremble.

Let your arms be branches reaching out,

an embrace strong enough to cradle hearts heavy with burden.

Breathe kindness into conversations hushed by fear;

turn fierce words into gentle rain:

softening jagged edges of misunderstanding,

the only armour worth wearing is compassion’s cloak.

For every fire ignited in disdain,

let us spark flames of hope,

in each heart a flicker,

gathered together in shared stories,

woven through time like threads unbroken.

Through stark divides we shall walk hand in hand;

each step a bridge built from trust,

thrumming with the pulse of our humanity.

And when the night falls heavy with worry,

lift voices in song:

“I see you. I hear you.”

In every act of grace, a revolution,

simple gestures stirring tides,

the caring touch

that breaks barriers set by age old fears.

So remember this:

when storms rage and darkness spreads its wings,

bring love,

a beacon that never wavers;

for light found within one fleeting moment,

can cast aside shadows.

A choice igniting endless possibilities:

to sow understanding among broken dreams;

to lift spirits as high as mountains,

Love lingers long after hate has faded.

Bring love forth,

a thread binding us closer,

reminding all, that even in aching depths, we rise...

together coloured not by division

but by unity's embrace.

In shadows where hatred churns,

let love blossom,

a quiet revolution,

soft as a whispering breeze.

When voices clash in thunderous roars,

be the lullaby of peace,

gentle hands woven together,

hearts open like petals to the sun.

When chaos reigns and reason falters,

pause; inhale the stillness,

the world spins on despite its madness.

Feel the pulse of existence, deep and slow.

With every breath drawn from this sacred air,

forge connections over fences built high,

because kindness whispers louder than anger’s shout;

together we can weave a tapestry brighter than despair.

So when darkness threatens to blanket the sky,

be a beacon that ignites warmth:

hold close those who tremble in fear,

love is our armour against despair’s chill.

Let us paint with all colours of compassion

upon this canvas of disarray;

for even in fractures lies potential for beauty,

unity born from threads frayed and mended.

Breathe deep when confusion swirls around you;

recognize each beat within your chest,

there exists a rhythm beyond conflict's clutch.

Even here among echoes of sorrow and rage,

whispers linger: hope floats lightly above.

Choose love as your mantle;

let it guide you home,

through fires fierce,

or tempests wild.

Amidst raucous clamour or silence profound,

let hearts resonate true,

offering solace like rain falling soft on cracked earth;

and remember: just as day breaks after night,

every act fueled by compassion sows seeds

that flourish,

into blooms unseen until time is revealed

nurtured by belief that love prevails always,

we grow together, toward tomorrow, brightened anew.

When the world is full of hate,

let love be a lantern glowing,

a flicker in the dark,

softening hearts like butter on warm bread.

When voices clash like thunder,

bring peace,

a gentle stream flowing,

carving out valleys between mountains of anger,

whispering the truth that stillness can bloom amidst chaos.

In crowded streets where shadows linger,

hold hands and weave dreams together,

for every sneer that cuts through silence,

let kindness rise like morning light.

In this space where sorrow often reigns,

be the whisper of laughter echoing,

that sweet reminder: we are not alone.

Let our arms wrap around differences,

our smiles bridge chasms wide as oceans;

in unity’s embrace find strength to stand tall,

for even the smallest act can shift a tide.

So when despair clings heavy on weary shoulders,

be the breath that ignites hope anew;

paint bright colours over skies smeared with grey:

turn canvases of conflict into tapestries of love.

Every heartbeat pulses with potential for change,

a symphony waiting for orchestrators;

tune your heartstrings to compassion's call:

show up in grace even at paths we cannot see.

For when hatred tries to pull us under lightning storms,

we will rise in harmony,

woven tight by threads spun from understanding,

this is how we unfurl wings made from light

and soar above shadows cast by fear.

Reveal what lies beneath division’s veil:

we all seek shelter against life’s tempests;

carry forth an open hand, not just in words but action,

to uplift those yearning for warmth and belonging.

Each planet spins with stories untold;

collectively bound yet uniquely sewn,

when chaos throws dust into our eyes,

let clarity come through quiet resilience.

Because even small seeds grow thick roots

and blossoms burgeon from cracks in tough earth,

love invigorates spaces once void,

while seekers sow gardens where darkness fell.

So breathe deep this manifesto, the promise unbroken:

When faced with disdain's inevitable weight,

choose love as both shield and sword;

when strife steals sleep away at night,

fold peace around each unrested body

like blankets gently cradling tired souls,

as tomorrow dawns raw and fresh again,

remind one another, we have power here:

to lift each other higher than yesterday

and create a legacy forged not in strife

but glistening threads woven tight with care.

Wherever you walk on these fragmented roads,

leave footprints softened by benevolence,

wherever you go in life,

allow your spirit to glow

with reminders tenderest of all:

amidst a cacophony demanding surrender,

we will choose stillness borne entirely of choice:

make room within ourselves for what could be,

kindred hearts intertwining boldly across boundaries pulled taut,

the future leaping alive beneath our resolute feet!

In a time where shadows stretch long,

and whispers curl like smoke in the air,

we walk through streets heavy with anger,

faces turned away, hearts locked behind steel doors.

Yet even here, where bitterness sprouts like wildflowers,

a spark dwells deep inside us;

it flickers quietly beneath our skin.

Bring love.

Let it flow like a river unbound,

softening stone and thawing ice,

Let it cascade into crevices carved by despair.

For kindness can drown out roars;

a smile dismantles walls built on malice.

Hold open hands when fists clench tight;

let laughter rise up as armour against wrath.

When eyes burn with fire from cruel words flung,

offer gentle glances that weave silken threads,

creating tapestries rich in compassion’s embrace.

There is strength in tender gestures,

a touch upon weary shoulders,

sharing warmth shared amidst frigid nights.

Speak comfort softly into aching souls;

echo grace until rage falters and crumbles.

Breathe life back into parched landscapes,

plant seeds of understanding where weeds choke hope.

Craft spaces for dialogue over silent judgement;

celebrate differences spun together like threads in cloth.

In your heart,

the fortress against the storm:

make room for others to enter,

to know we’re bound not by fear but an unfolding tapestry

of humanity's raw beauty and vibrant colours.

Unfurl love wherever you tread,

for darkness retreats at the dawn of connection,

unspooling chains forged from misunderstanding,

into ribbons dancing under an encircling sun;

when hate shouts yet again,

rise silently upon wings of empathy

lifting each other with unsaid promises:

in this moment, is change possible?

Yes!

So let your spirit resonate with nature’s truth:

the softness holds might within its core,

bring love forward, looking toward tomorrow,

even when all else seems lost or gone astray,

with every heartbeat shattering cycles hurtfully spun,

echo love,

love leads us home.

When the world is full of hate

Bring love

When the world is full of conflict

Seek peace 

When the world stops making sense

Breathe deep

When fear starts to overwhelm

Create hope

...

I've recorded myself reading some of these poems and you can find them on my Instagram reels if you'd like or on my substack feed.