Skin seals us in so well that we believe
\nour souls are separate too: we go to war
\nin sport and to the death equally knowing
\nwith a certainty as clear as open space
\nthat conflict is our natural state and
\nfriendship an illusion, ephemeral, unnatural.<\/p>\n
Skin is good: we need it, but should not
\nbelieve it. In the cells in that skin, and
\nthe cells within, is the lesson: each with
\na brain, working together for the good of all.
\nIt is our separation that makes us hate
\nsome, and worship others. But we are one.<\/p>\n
We speak, we write, we make music and
\nart and food and religion and love; we listen,
\nwe read, we sing along and appreciate and
\nbelieve and love\u2014all those to be one.
\nListen, see and love: all this will happen
\nis clearly as empty space is not a separation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This poem comes by roundabout route: I was considering how many people I know who have achieved something at a world-class level\u2014now it’s really hard to explain: you’ll just have to read the poem. (#1030) Continue reading