Different

Somewhere 

Someone 

Convinced you 

Being different 

Is a bad thing 

We are indoctrinated 

Very early in life 

To see the differences 

Unconsciously 

Making subtle judgments 

You look different 

Your skin is another color 

Your hair is different 

Your eyes aren’t like mine 

Your body is different 

“Verschieden”

Before we even meet 

You’ve made assessments 

Based not on the person I am 

But rather, my worth to you 

What can I, being 

Different 

Offer to one such as you 

“Distinto”

When I speak 

You hear my different accent 

About the value of my words 

Over the value of my experiences 

How can I, being 

Different 

Understand your situation 

“แตกต่าง”

I come from a different country 

I believe in a different God 

I follow/worship them 

In an alternative manner 

“不同的”

We have differences 

But this is not the bad thing 

When these become a wall 

It has become a bad thing 

We are diverse 

In some points, even distinct 

Various origin stories 

Unique paths to arrive 

Yet, we are alike, you and I 

United by a common beginning 

(Regardless of how you believe 

This beginning occurred) 

We are the same 

“Lapp”

“Stesso”

“เหมือนกัน”

“拉普语”

This is a good thing 

© Ron Simpson Jr. 

November 3, 2022