how so different we are

you are
a born again
christian
while i am
a lapsed one
you pray
maybe
five times a day
when i
can not remember
the last time
i was inside a church

i am
passionate about politics
which you
hold in deep disdain
i am
an activist
dreaming of
new protests
and demonstrations
and all
you are
thinking is
shoot, now look,
i can't get into town
because of
that stupid rally

how so
different we are
different
worlds
different
outlooks
your friends
tell you
what my friends
tell me

how will
it ever work
when you are
so different
how will you
raise children together
how will you
bridge those chasms

and yet
our daily
growing bond
confounds
the doom sayers
leaving them
scratching their heads
even as
we simply go on
loving
each other...

onyango oloo
montreal
thursday, may 20, 2004