Ymagine Equity

In terms of kind messages, equity is way up there on my list, associated with the elimination of social injustice. I would love for children to learn this explicitly, early on in their homes. I was incredibly fortunate in this regard, which is terrible in the sense that it shouldn’t be so uncommon an occurence as to elicit that kind of sentiment.

I thought that lyrics in terms of color, shape, texture, and scent would be good grounding for the metaphor... and I’m far from the first person to have thought of that.

The poem wanted to be more of a folksong, but I argued that such a style might not be musically consistent with the rest of the album; however, the poem pointed out that a songwriter’s voice with an acoustic guitar might handle that nicely… so I tried it. I think that the poem was right… I really like it.

While I do not use the term “blind” to represent ignorance, in this case the context is getting kids used to rejecting the premise that “color blindness” is an acceptable form of bigotry.

Lyrics

Rest your head and close your eyes,

` neath the starry, gentle skies,

feeling as you drift to sleep,

this love we share is yours to keep.

Circle red and shining bright

Blue square `neath the gentle light

Three-sides yellow, points so bold

Jasmine flower, story told

They love each other, clear and true.

Harsh struggles faced by some, they knew.

Not blind to difference, but instead,

they stand together, hearts widespread.

Every shape has worth all told,

every color, brave and bold,

Work to make a world that's fair,

where love surrounds you everywhere.

Diamond green with edges sharp

Orange star glows like a spark

Heart pink curves so soft and kind

Oval teal with dreams in mind

Bumpy cedar, copper-warm

Crescent smooth as silver dawn

Eight-sides rough like sandy shore

Spiral silky, smooth dance floor

Some shapes face mountains hard to climb.

Some colors dimmed time after time.

But hand in hand we'll change the view,

a promise that we'll see this through.