Cultural Crossings

Introduction to a play.

Let the customs of the age be reflected on the stage.

Let them understand the bow, the nod.

Why he walks ahead, and she walks behind.

And understand the curtsy now.

The blend of color and of creed

Oh, let them all please agree.

As they pass upon the street

Of timeless wisdom they will observe

The elders teach song and dance.

Of stories told through time.

When lives are reconciled as grayness befalls each

The things that seemed important are no longer so

Let the children know.

Why courtesy is a way of life

Preventing anger and strife

If only each of us could see

Our brother's own humanity

And present the torch unto our young

Generations must carry on.

Remove the hatred born of war.

Scarred lives: tender souls

Hands that cross the great divide

Need a healer from the sky.

If we look into our brother's eyes

And see our own image.

Then never a weapon born by I

For the mirror is a timeless passage

Beat the drum the echo is from the past.

Voices that share the heartache once known as theirs

Woman with child

Beaten while in exile.

Auschwitz horrors still resound.

Sewn through tears given in love.

Orphans of new wars need not be.

If we could all simply agree

The children must see they are our future.

The waters that bridge this great divide

Need a healer with prophetic eyes.

If we teach hate,

Callous hearts will walk the streets.

If we teach love in troubled times

Even when pain has come to our abode.

Then a moral compass will guide the children home.

If we see ourselves void of color and of creed

Then truly we are free.

Blood that flows through our veins

The branch between past and present

Blood brothers and sisters, are we?

Faith requires forgiveness.

If we left our money at the banker's door

Saw our fellow man in his struggle!

Shared what we had to offer.

Neighbors would no longer be strangers.

Understanding requires listening.

Skills come in so many forms.

Hunger knows no color, no creed.

War ravages and leaves so many on desperate knees.

If we move into a barbaric state, then we've but sealed our own fate.

Communicating is the greatest challenge faced by every being.

Words can be as a quick draw of a gun.

Or the balm that soothes the soul.

If we expect another to lower his weapon,

Should we not be expected to bow ours as well?

The nod of accord signaled in unison.

Requires fear to be left aside.

Respect becomes the norm.

And is taught to our young

What about those with disabilities

The vulnerable of the street

Does society just ignore?

Like shadows of a different war

Dear God, have we forgotten,

So much so that the self-society

Tramples on the poor

Oppression of a different form!

How do we reconcile our beliefs?

When General Pratt proclaimed...

"Kill the savage save the child."

Robbing the children of their native tongue

And yanking the traditions of the native ones

Have you heard of the Black Panthers?

And how they wanted equality.

The struggle is not a new endeavor.

Black Lives Matter is the sounding drum.

Of the voices lost by the gun

Peace, Peace, Peace cry I

Along with so many who are tired and old.

What about the elders?

Listen and learn, history need not repeat itself!

Who will answer the clarion call?

Or will destruction claim us all?