On June 19, 2015, I issued a third Collaborative Poetry Throwdown to my Facebook community. I offered a line that came from my good friend Jen Gray that morning, following the horror of the Charleston, SC church shooting and the death of nine innocent victims: "How can I add more love to the planet today?"

I invited anyone who wanted to participate to respond, then I gathered, re-organized, edited the submissions, and strung them together. Here is the collaborative piece that resulted:

. . . . .

My Commitment to the World or
A Personal Manifesto of Love 

I will say hello. 
I will smile eye to eye at EVERYONE I see, make contact that says, "I'm happy to know you. You matter.” One person at a time.
I will be curious rather than judgmental.
I will let myself be stretched by the stories of people who are different from me.
I will listen to whoever needs to speak, because they may be in pain.
I will observe and share.
I will hug more.
I will be fierce with acts of kindness, through words and deeds.
I will be curious and compassionate.
I will sprinkle love like holy water.
I will slow down.
I will let go.
I will get over myself.
I will hold still.
I will take a deep breath.
I will stand with my bare feet on the ground.
I will forgive what can't be forgotten, surrender being right to the sea and the sky.
I will feed the birds.
I will count the flowers.
I will read poetry to the trees.
I will hear the beats of the earth singing.
I will hit the road with the tunes cranked up.`
I will create.
I will be curious.
I will be compassionate.
I will be generous.
I will open my heart, in spite of what I’ve lost.
I will sew the broken bits together.
I will look for the highest good.
I will make a conscious effort.
I will thank a stranger.
I will share their burden.
I will remember my words have power.
I will love more, and hate less.
I will learn to love myself.
I will show up.
I will make that phone call.
I will speak the truth.
I will improvise as best I can.
I will hold a hand.
I will treat my children with tenderness.
I will notice the new growth, the slow unfurling, all that is happening around me and inside me.
I will breathe in to calm my fears. I will breath out love and understanding.
I will laugh from my deep core.
I will wish for more answers when I don’t have them.
I will remember that we are all human, worthy, broken, bent, hurting, and connected.

. . . . . . . . .

With deep thanks to the contributors:

Amy Lee Czadzeck, Northville, NY
Anjika Grinager, Santa Cruz, CA
Beth Lampe, Ridgewood, NJ
Brent Vonroth, Nutley, NJ
Carina Karlsson, Bristol, VA
Crissy Liu, Somerville, MA
Deb Reynolds, Peterborough, Ontario, CANADA
Denae Godfrey Schow, Draper, UT
Diana McKamey Dellos, Williamsburg, VA
Elaine Lapierre, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Erica Silvestri
Heather Plett, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA
Jaci Hull, Boulder, CO
Jamie Locke, Indianapolis, IN
Jean Robin Martell
Jean Moore, Phoenix, AZ
J Elizabeth Ballard, Brevard, NC 
Jen Louden, Bainbridge Island, WA
Jessica Schneider, Chicago, IL
Jim Horton, Ridgewood, NJ
Jodi Crane
Jody Lewis, Santa Barbara, CA
Joni Lang, Cincinatti, OH
Kate Johnson, Peterborough, NH
Katherine Helms Cummings, Sandersville, GA
Kathleen Ambrose Warner, Chicago, IL
Kat Ogaz, Santa Rosa, CA
Kimberley McGill, Tustin, CA
Kira Elliott, Detroit, MI
Kirsten Liske, Santa Cruz, CA 
Kolleen Harrison, San Luis Obispo, CA
Laurie Gies Jacobsen, Tucson, AZ
Lila Danielle, Kihei, HI
Lisa Smith, Hastings, NE
Lisa Lise Taquette, Atlanta, GA
Margaret Nitka, Rumson, NJ
Martha McCartney
Melissa Stewart, New York, NY
Meredith Collins Krugel
Michelle Frederick Vanstrom, Buffalo, NY
Michelle Greco, Boonton, NJ
Myriam Joseph, Los Angeles, CA
Pat Wiederspan Jones, Kearney, NE
Pati Taba, Sacramento, CA
Rachel Thomas, Boronia, Victoria, AUSTRALIA
Ruth Davis, Cayucos, CA
Scott James, Austin, TX
Shannon Loucks, Santa Clara, CA
Shelia French
Sue Imperial, Oakland, CA 
Susan Lucas, Chevy Chase, MD
Susan Marynowsk, Gainesville, FL
Tammie Delles, Ann Arbor, MI
Tracy Weiss, Las Vegas, NV