Kindness (by Naomi Shihab Nye – 1952)

“… Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,

only kindness that ties your shoes

and sends you out into the day to gaze at bread,

only kindness that raises its head

from the crowd of the world to say

It is I you have been looking for,

and then goes with you everywhere like a shadow or a friend.”

This is an excerpt from the poem “Kindness” by Naomi Shihab Nye written in 1952. The Academy of American Poets announced that “Kindness” was the most popular work on poets.org this year.  See complete poem at https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/kindness