Blessed are the grandmothers
Who raise their grandchildren.
They find reciprocity in the happiness of the babies.
Their gift will be a new world constructed
On the building blocks of unrelenting devotion
Where they sing and dance
And be joyful without worry,
Because the work is done.
They will rest in the glory of the ultimate guardian.
Their hearts will be unbreakable.
Every child will have a mother and father,
And they will rest easy.

Blessed are the men
Who are fathers not by blood.
Theirs is a rare virtue.
They have aced the test of humanness.
Forever unaware, their mundane
Machinations are philanthropic.
Their gift will be a world
Of radiant sunshine,
Where all men exercise the best
Attributes of the best fathers.
Love will reproduce love
Like the cells of Henrietta Lacks,
And billions of souls will
Coexist in perfect harmony.

Blessed are the boys
Who free their mothers from poverty.
They watch them work
Like twentieth-century sharecroppers,
Trying to bring comfort to their families,
Running on hamster wheels and losing ground.
Sometimes the mothers are beat into submission,
Sometimes they self-medicate on alcohol or Jesus.
The boys’ dream is to take their mothers’ hands
And carry them safely to the other
Side of turbulent waters.
The love between these mothers and sons
Did not start at the crossing of the birth canal.
This sacred love precedes time.
If the world is to make sense,
Maternal virtue must be rewarded.
Their gift will be a world where sons rest easy
Because their mothers rest easy,
And every day is bursting
With the gratitude of Christmas morning
When there is something special for everyone.

Blessed are the children who liberate themselves
From poverty with natural ability, heart, and tenacity.
Defying all odds, they are remarkable.
Their gifts will be a world where hope
And promise are not obliterated before puberty,
Dreams are not deferred, and all people
Die in full command of their potential.
With a keen sense of equality, Mother
Nature will continue to grace each person
With everything required to be exceptional.
And all societies will assist their citizens
In the pursuit of finding their life’s purpose,
Minus the gravitational bulldoze
Of historic and generational poverty.
None of the precious stones will have
To be uncovered—every one will shine.

Blessed are the prodigal sons,
The ones possessed by the spirit of Sankofa.
They have left the village,
Acquiring so much knowledge,
But their return is necessary—
To teach, coach, and mentor.
There are lessons to learn for everyone.
Their gift will be a world
Where the only need to return
Is for love and celebration.

Blessed are the women with subpar wages
Who are mothers to all.
They will manifest a plate of food,
A warm jacket, or a hug when needed,
Without the condescension
Cloaked in fake altruism.
Their gift will be a world
Where every person has a table,
And the centerpiece
Of every table is a cornucopia.
The angels will eat well.

Blessed are the ones who offer second chances.
They know the human soul is redeemable.
They can forgive even while hurting.
Shouts of fools will be heard
From the ecumenical choir,
But the forgivers are nearer to the one.
They are the redemption of humanity.
Their gift will be a world
Where hell doesn’t exist, only purgatory,
And every soul will be granted time to perfect divinity
When the golden trumpets blow,
“The Saints Go Marching In”
Will be the heavenly soundtrack.

Blessed are the ones who live with vigor
Despite life’s tragic comedy.
They walk with eagerness,
Drinking the wine, smelling the roses,
And eating the dreaded apple.
Sometimes they overindulge.
All this and more without regret.
They laugh, cry, and curse their maker.
They are the most evolved among us.
Their gift will be a world
Perfect in its imperfections,
Where no one is afraid to be human.

This poem excerpted by permission from Lens award-winning contributor Chuck Perkins’ new book, Beautiful and Ugly Too, released last week by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press. Perkins will read and sign his book on Friday, August 8 at 8 p.m. at Cafe Istanbul, 2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA 70117