When your people are my people then
I will grieve, moan, and wail through the night
when they are jailed, oppressed, abused, or killed.
The pain will not be your pain, but our pain
on that day, when your people are my people.
When the voice of your people is muted
by the voice of the mighty majority so loud
that small voices are only whispers.
Then your voice will become my voice
on that day, when your people are my people.
If your people are bound in a bottomless pit
and their jobs lead only to perpetual poverty
I will not turn away content that I got mine.
I will not ignore your plight
on that day, when your people are my people.
If sick, wounded, or suffering
I will not turn away saying, oh well, another day.
Your disease and afflictions we will share
on that day, when your people are my people.
When injustice comes upon you, then
I will not ignore, hide, or turn my face away.
I will rise up and take a stand with you
on that day, when your people are my people.
On that day when your people are my people
there will be no more, us and them
and no more them and us,
but only – we.
Image credit: Unity in Diversity (Bahai Teachings website)
- We by Mark Anderson - September 15, 2020