It Is Not Our Differences

You profess we are too different
Our costumes insurmountable accoutrements
Life experience, festooned feathers, distracting
Social ornaments, gifts from family, friends, community, country
The haphazard decorations we shoulder obscuring our truth

These, these are your excuse
A smoke screen, a ruse to hide behind

It is my perception that our reflections are what scare us
The depth of our similarities
That which we would rather deny in our self
Reflecting back out of clear blue eyes

It is easy to dismiss that which is different
It is difficult to embrace that which is so close to our truth

Mirror, mirror, frightful waters of an inner storm
Acknowledgement bares the burden of action
For once Pandora’s box dissolves
Change is inevitable

Safe harbor no more
Full sails carry us onward