Sisters and Brothers, All

Sisters and brothers, all.

What affects one, affects all.

We are all connected,

across the globe.

The pain, the heartache, the terror, the unimaginable loss,

the fear, the anger, the hopelessness,

does not belong

only to “them,”

whoever “they” may be.

No,

because we all are one,

sisters and brothers, all.

The mother who cannot even scream

when she recognizes her child,

brutalized and dead.

The father who knows

there is nothing he can do, in the end,

to keep his children safe.

The child who,

separated from their family,

walks, in the trance of shock,

through mutilated, dead bodies,

trying to find

a familiar face.

The family who tries to flee,

but finds hindrances at each and every step.

These are our sisters, our brothers, all.

May we not grow numb,

may we not turn a blind eye.

May we stand in solidarity with

our siblings whose voices cry out

to be heard, to be seen; 

who need genuine compassion

from all who hear their cries,

and from those who try to turn away.

We are sisters and brothers, all.

My Muslim sister, my Jewish brother;

my Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Native, and non-religious siblings:

race or creed do not matter, in the end,

for we are all connected.

What affects one, affects all,

for we are sisters and brothers, all.