How blessed we are

For men and women

Brown and Yellow

Black and White

Who had patient hearts

Who acted on our behalf

Who moved with cautious respect

With tentative dialogue

With slight compromise

How blessed we are

That they acted on our behalf

Putting family at risk

Scarring their own relationships

Entering a loneliness only they could know

But hopeful of the possibilities

How blessed we are

That they chose to remove their steely breastplates at appropriate moments

In order to reveal themselves

Their deep humanity

And inviting in the humanity of others

To seed a coming together

For all

Pain and humour, vulnerability and steadfastness

Openness and secretiveness, iron-fistedness and compassion

Anger and love

They held it all comfortably and uncomfortably

Engaging the pain and criticism

But continuously extending themselves

Into their better natures, opening their souls

So that we could be human

So that we could, someday, be soulful and whole

How blessed we are