Five siblings inherit a blanket. They lie beneath it, together, to stay warm.
          But arms and legs stick out and the siblings squabble and tug. They do
          not realize that they would all fit if they just moved closer together.

This is the Blanket Story. Poets, artists, and musicians have responded to this tale in creative ways. All poems appear here, our ONLINE POETRY SHOWCASE. Visit our main page to find out more about the project.

Raymond Murphy

Love Turns the World

Love turns the world.
Compassion, just a pinch,
bolsters meaning in
life.
Greed drives hatred
propping brothers
against brothers.
Desiring
much more, than less,
taints Earth's humanity.
Values no longer,
diminished.
Killing, bloodshed, violence,
towards the vertex
of this skewed
pyramid.
Why cannot
ruthlessness end
and love spread?
Why can't we give?
Because
in return,
we receive
something greater.
The best gift of all, more
desirable
than what any
thief can
pilfer or
heist.