The trend was to wear funeral shrouds of black

but we wore clothing of bold color

even though everyone laughed at our lack of style

the latest fad was to hate each other

but we still indulged in reasonable conversation

and horrified the town with our spectacle of naked respect

the mob on the street was mindlessly screaming

out slogans that they had heard on the television

while we dared to speak in a normal tone of voice

yes we are the few

and the mad

who tried on the straitjacket

that the world had on sale

and found that it didn’t fit

we are the crazy ones

who just don’t get it

we want to live for more

than the lies

we are constantly sold

we still believe in something

bigger than ourselves

and we treat each other as humans

with value in the sight of God

we are wild

dangerous to the ones who find it easier to succumb

to the fumes of the chloroform

we are outcasts

told to leave at every meeting of the wise

(in their own eyes)

but we have no desire for the violence of the world

our lives have been changed by love