POEM: Divides

Across the divides, we gather
Time Zones
Cities/States
Experiences
Pains
With heads, hearts, and hands, we gather
Catching a glimpse
of the possible.
The feelings below the words
and the needs beyond both.

Yet the pain…
So real.
So present.
So perplexing.

Ruby Sayles asks us, “Where does it hurt”
Does the answer scare us?
So many places for so many people.
We step forward, warriors for justice.
Flames roaring in our chest,
the heat protecting us from the pain, the depth of our sadness.
Are there truly no bad parts?
Can we listen and learn?
Turn the raging bonfire productive
Sweep it across a prairie to bring new life?
Or a campfire to gather around
and hear each other’s stories?

Across the divides, we gather.
Religions.
Nationalities.
Identities.
Pains.
Rita Mae Brown whispers in a daily meditation:
“Language exerts hidden power, like the moon on the tides.”

If we are pro-Palestinian/pro-Israeli, what are we against?
Can we separate what we see and what we judge?
Peel back the words.
Feel the need.

With our heads, hearts, and hands,
the path ahead is bumpy, grey, uncertain.
We do not, cannot, travel alone.
And we need each other to hold the pain
and the light across the divides…

Editor’s note: Doug was inspired by Jen Wofford’s work. Click here to read “Bridging the Map” about her conflict resolution efforts.