As we head in to a new year, I thought of this poem… perhaps there may be something in it for you. In any case, go well everyone! My very best to you all.
“An Acknowledgement Of” by Steven Oliver
I wish I had infinite wisdom
Something meaningful I could impart
Like knowledge that’s passed through an unbroken chain
So long, we don’t know where it starts
Or maybe compassion that’s not dealt in rations
But comes from a heart overflowing
For compassion is wise
It sees without eyes
It grants us a depth to our knowing
Loss can be said in hundreds of ways
But is felt only in one
And the love that we feel for the ones in our heart
Doesn’t feel like the love for our mums
Colour won’t change how our skin feels the rain
And after it’s all said and done
Our stories are different
But they’re also the same
We all need love from someone
And, sure, that’s cliche
We all can relate
We all have some story about a terrible first date
Or maybe that potential that’s now Facebook-banned
Because they wouldn’t try and listen or try to understand
‘Cause, you see, understanding means feeling it first
And we’re not good at feeling so we hit that reverse
We don’t want to get close ‘cause we’re told not to care
Looking out for yourself is what gets you somewhere
And then what the heck should we even be feeling?
And does this feel right?
‘Cause it don’t feel like healing
And so we stop short at the blame or the shame
Not wanting to know how another feels pain
And we lose in that moment what may be the key
The act of acknowledging
Of saying, “I see”
‘Cause there, in that moment, what has just been
Someone for the first time felt they were seen
So now I acknowledge this country’s deep pain
I acknowledge the stains left by many blood rains
I acknowledge the loss, the uncountable costs
I acknowledge the tears, children shed for a cross
I acknowledge the rights still often denied
I acknowledge the chants that my elders have cried
I acknowledge that I can’t acknowledge it all
So I acknowledge the tears that to this day fall
And now I acknowledge all those who believe
That a goodness of spirit is there to retrieve
I’ll acknowledge the caring, compassionate ways
That helps with the healing towards better days
I acknowledge the listening that allows us to see
The much-needed connection that acknowledges we
For we must acknowledge that where we all stand
Is a place in which each of us all have a hand
To either reach out, to touch and to heal
To teach and support, to help others feel
That sees us acknowledge the truth of this earth
So we then may acknowledge the truth of its worth
And maybe we’ll find that in doing so
That wealth isn’t the thing that what we need grow
That what makes us richer is a deeper respect
A felt understanding of how we connect
Colour won’t change how our skin feels the rain
Or the warmth we all feel from one sun
Our stories are different
But they’re also the same
And inevitably our story is one.
