DIFFERENT
1
Why does my difference cause distress in thee,
Am I not made unique as you are too,
Or is what I am a defect you can’t see,
That lives an ignorant devil inside of you?
I am by all accounts just what I am,
I did not choose my form nor my fair skin,
I did not choose my God though I can,
Nor was I given choice as stout or thin.
What is it that divides your failed thoughts thus,
That you upon yourself adorn all truth?
Why am I not so worthy of your trust,
But just a lower subject of reproof?
It seems we are our teachers minds retained,
We cant escape unless we feel ashamed.
2
As you would see a river when in flood,
With less regard than in its former state,
You seem to balance change as not so good,
When weighed upon the scales of normal fate.
Are we not streams alike with different routes,
That flow through life into the same deep sea,
With different turns and falls loud sounds and mutes
As our birth seeds defined our way to be?
We are by God designed as flowing streams,
Though chance prepares the way where we do flow,
And each, though it is different, has it’s dreams,
As each must take it’s path where it must go.
For that great sea where all the rivers meet,
Will every running stream with glory greet.
3
You may well think your Gods belong to you,
That those folk you despise are all exempt,
That from a single line your biased view,
Denies them equal status with contempt.
Behold the man who died for all your sins,
Who did not turn away nor man deplore
Yet folk who praise him by their act begins,
A trend of hate that rots the human core.
Who gave thee voice oh priest of bias tongue?
Who made you so all knowing that despair,
Lives in the hearts of those who know your wrong,
Still paining from the thorns in Jesus’ hair?
Walk your own paths sweet people but do share,
With those folk who are different all your care

4
Take to your heart my difference with accord,
As I your understanding doth expect,
For from our choiceless birth there is reward,
If what I am you kindly don’t reject.
Am I from births due fault to be despised?
Because such defect is not as would be yours?
Indeed though what I am in your proud eyes,
I am still worthy of your fond applause.
Being this me of my true births design,
I am so bound to live as suits my will,
And though I am not what you might define,
I am a person who must life fulfill.
Thus by your own deployment don’t offend,
Just treat me as a person and a friend.

© 10/05/2002 Colin Jones