a stumble, or a soar

 

commonality in difference

when I look at somebody's eyes,

I can often see past the surface

and see the unique microcosm

that is that of God within them,

a self that is ready to fly,

but is also ready to retreat from the leap,

I particularly feel for any beset with doubt

who feel a clumsiness within

that can lead to a stumble instead of the soar,

we work hard these days to open ourselves

to finding any commonality within our diversity,

whether it be from gender, or opinion

or the balance of our humours,

I am gifted, and cursed, with empathy,

with powerful emotions that throw me

into whatever fray exists around me,

I sorrow when I see the extraordinary in another

when it seems that others just see the contrary,

each of us has that of God within us,

and I want to glory in how well it can manifest,

no matter how convoluted, or obscure,

that path to flying can be,

I feel the potential tragedy inherent in difference,

until we can learn to celebrate how much the other is also us,

and then we can grow larger, and closer to God,

when we expand and know the other 

as maybe even better at being itself than we are.

by Henry H. Walker

May 9, ‘26