Poems on Civility: It Starts with You and Depends on You

Although civility may sometimes have been viewed as formal politeness and courtesy in one's speech and behavior, its meaning has become more complex in contemporary society. It certainly still has to do with how we speak and act, but these are overlaid with political and partisan meanings, and a variety of media and social media options. Poems on Civility says nothing new about diverse types of civility, or lack of them; however, it accentuates many emphases related to civility with words, phrases, images, metaphors, and similes that may help readers to think more vividly and act more intentionally to create a more civil society. The four sections follow a progression: "Civility Starts with You," "Civility Depends on You," "Civility Must Be Discussed," and "Civility Must Be Done." Civility requires creative thinking and creative action. Above all, civility expects a just and equal regard of all human beings. Recognition of wrong-directed activities of leaders is one thing, but civility must be thought through, discussed, and acted upon. There is always the tendency of autocrats and anarchists to take away the rights of free speech and discussion. If the art of listening carefully to one another is lost, civility vanishes.