Tears togetther shed

Tears together shed

Years ago, thirty-eight, a friend reached down into my grief

and lit a path, one candle

better than darkness cursed

to shine and show, small seed sown

how though the world is wide and far

and language strange, culture and custom odd and surely wrong

so many gods, marriages arranged

a price upon the young bride’s head

still we have seen and known, through friendships grown

hands linked, small phrases learned and shared

stretched to bridge divides

arms in sorrow flung for comfort, tears together shed

and so, this much we know

that difference and distance, wide and far

nothing signify at all.

Put it simply, sing it loud

we are human, undivided, altogether

we are one. 

January 8th 2016, RUHSA campus, for Carolyn with love and I.M Thomas George Whittingham, 30/ 10/ 77- 07/ 01/ 78.