CONNECTED BY OUR HUMANITY . . .
but, sometimes
we don’t understand our differences

perhaps
instead of trying to figure it out,
we need to just LISTEN
to each other RESPECTFULLY
and
SHARE HONESTLY
why we feel the way we do

if I can tell you what I
really fear
and you can listen
without judgement
and respectfully
acknowledge my fear
as being real for me . . .

perhaps
we can work together
to face the challenges—
those unseen demons
that drive our fears
and seem to put us
on different sides

if I can accept that
you are person
with needs just like me
and everybody else
and not some evil being
out to destroy me,
then we can talk . . .

perhaps
we can open our HEARTS again
to life for all human beings
and close our MINDS to the
hate-filled, fear-creating
words and thoughts
that divide to gain power

if I can hold onto
HOPE in our destiny of life
and see the basic needs
of food and shelter for all
as a part of “we the people”
our country was built on
and a union created . . .

perhaps
we can open up a way
to the best path
that explores all our fears
and works on building
a world
connected by our humanity

perhaps . . .