(The author would like to acknowledge Ram Dass from whom the idea for the poem came.)
a walk in the woods
tangle of branches
surrounded by trees
each one is different
the tall straight oak
the crooked maple
the wise and prickly pine
the one with few leaves remaining
the sickly one
the robust one
the evergreen
I love each tree
I accept each one without judgement
a walk in the city
crowded sidewalk
cement and neon
synthetic forest
surrounded by people
each one is different
the tall one the short one
the dark one the light one
the healthy one the sick one
the rich one the poor one
the one who has not had time to find out who she is
the one who speaks a language that I can’t understand
the one who worships a different goddess
the well- dressed one with the broken heart
the one who sleeps on the park bench at night
can I love each one?
can I accept each person without judgement?
yes
yes
a resounding yes
I can love them just like I love the trees…
but the best part of being human is that
when the music plays
we can all dance together
and not only accept
but celebrate our differences
listen
listen
my whole human family
they’re playing our song
it sounds like love and inclusion
and the singer tells a beautiful truth
so gather here
and tell your own truth
each of us is on a journey
won’t you come and dance with us…