Borders have their uses.
They tidy-up the scene,
remind us where we are,
and where we have not been.
They assign us each a plot
of able responsibility,
and call us to fulfill our task,
to act responsibly, as we ought.
Like naturalists we name each plot
to recognize ourselves within its place.
We mark paths between each plot,
a no-man’s land of sea and space.
Borders are a mere tool to use.
They can create more civility.
Or, they can abuse all gentility.
We can move across borders easily.
They were not made to stop humanity
from going where it needs to go
to find food and shelter, water and safety.
There is the rub in such a construction.
It can also lead to self-destruction.
For we are all part of the same family
of men and women descended
from a single source evolving merrily.
Until, each one of us is forced to face
the human weakness that lies within
and threatens our dreams of what we could win
if only we were better than we are.
If we were better, we could reach the stars.
Such anger we cannot allow directed at self.
We look for somewhere to place it,
when it should be put on a shelf,
placed where it can do no harm
and give us time to calm our alarm
that we are far from perfect, but still okay.
Our personal borders help us hold our evil at bay.
Instead, we project all the fear and rage
from and toward ourselves to others,
other humans being human, idiot or sage.
We carefully choose a human target
who does not quite look like us;
and not because he is truly different at all.
But in mirrored reflection of our follies
his appearance creates a place we can hide
that we are truly the same person, inside.
It would never do to project our own failings
onto another who looked just like we look.
It would prove the foolishness of railing
against all who look the same-self ailing.
So, we choose to note a difference
to justify our disdain and discrimination.
We close our borders with determination.
We miss the prize right before our eyes.
We miss the chance to accept our need
for the strength that comes with community.
We forget, for as long as we can,
that differences reinforce each man
and help us each overcome our weakness,
our circular thinking, our useless imagination
and build a stronger human-kind nation
within every border, across every border
until we kind humans no longer fear
our very selves, nor one another.
We could act as sister and brother
and settle our squabbles with love
as part of a human family.
We could project amity
and, perhaps, save humanity.
annarino writes 