One Among Many

Humans,
A long time friend, Leon Swimmer, of Pittsburgh, USA, passed on yesterday. Leon dedicated himself to the service of humanity,in the Bakery, Confectionist and Tobacco Workers Union, in racial justice campaigns and numerous anti-war movements. This is a time for me to reflect on the loss of a good man, the meaning of community. Perhaps it's a proper moment to reflect on you and yours? Sometimes I lose sight of the space in my heart occupied by those whose love and sharing shape the man I am.


One Among Many

I am son of a woman
Who married my father
And bore many children
Buried our dead
Plain Pine boxes
We was poor
Mourned our kin
Kin of a neighbor

We give of our muscle
Our tenuous time
Pride in our part
Played in the world
We work to live
Live to love
We walk the Earth together

I toil day after day
and nights
A simple laborer
Simply making it
One among many

On tired knees and weakly legs
What burdens this back cannot carry
Weights my shoulders cannot stand
What gifts too rich and plenty
For my two hands to hold
I share and share alike
One among many

Dream and dare
Believe the World
Colors and tongues
Shape our lives
Room for all round table

High times, low times
Sometimes all we have
Courage and trust
The bond made of us
We do the best we can

For troubled waters
They rush and they swirl
Rushing and swirling
Caught up we all
Surging and spawning

Upstream, upstream sure
We are spilling ourselves
Upstream,down wind
Together now better
One among many

I march, I run
I sit and calm
Oh, let go, let's dance
I am rhythmic tic 'o time
One among many

Relinquished of the vigor
The vitals of my spring
Replenished in greater meaning
This is love
One among many