Cultural Crossings

Cultural Crossings

By Madeleine Graham

Introduction

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 teaching in 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 brothers 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

But peace requires the quilted patch

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

We are the molders of their beliefs

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 our 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 bankers 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 be left aside

Respect becomes the norm

And is taught to our young