I received the following poem two days ago from a man I’ve never met who reads my blog, and got permission to pass it along. It feels germane to our conversations, and as you can see, it was written not only in the midst of conditions of the US war in Afghanistan, but also speaks to events closer to home for the rest of us. I particularly like the final stanza:
“I am currently in Afghanistan, and was inspired be recent events both here and at home in the states to write the following poem. Please accept it as a gift in thanks… Peace and Blessings, Joe Haydu”
I know you
You were a baby, full of potential
You were a child, full of dreams.
You were loved, you were hated,
Your dreams faced the waves of fate
Your hopes faced the rocks of reality.
You lost those you cared for,
You loved and lost and loved again,
You have seen the best and worst of humanity.
I do not know how your life has been shaped
by the storms of time, but I know one thing,
you are me and I am you.
We are humans, and we are the same,
Beneath the skin, beyond the battle scars,
We are one, you are me and I am you.
We are not at war, we are not enemies,
You are not some horrible other,
You are me and I am you.
We are born, we live and we die
Our lives are like a flickering flame
You are me and I am you.
We believe God is real,
We believe God is an illusion,
We believe in Goddess and Gods and everything inbetween.
And yet,
You are me and I am you.
Forget those who say that we must fear
Forget those who would rule us
You are me and I am you, and we are one.
– Joe Haydu
I bow to you all.
(Stay safe, Joe.)