If (A Buddhist Poem)

if all living beings are by nature Buddha, then how can we designate worth to one, and no worth to another? what makes us think we have the right to choose? if all a baby understands are nipple, light, darkness, and being loved... have we grown wiser? if a faithful dog follows us till the day he dies, only asking to be fed and loved, giving unconditional love in return... who is the real master? if we spend all of our lives in the pursuit of money and possessions, ... do we own them, or do they own us? what happens to them when we die? if we love someone so much that we're afraid to let go.... do we really love them? if we have food to eat, and a place to sleep... what else do we really need? if we have food to eat, and a neighbor is going hungry... how can we eat? if prejudice is born of fear... what are we afraid of? ... them, or our own selves? if killing is wrong, and war is killing... why do we keep marching to those infernal drums, like sheep being led to slaughter? if all living beings are by nature Buddha... then how can we not care? ... how can we use, abuse, and discard? ... how can we turn our backs and walk away?