Not enemies

"We are not enemies
though parents told us so

We are not enemies
though they taught us so at school

We are not enemies
just because the pulpit insists

We are not enemies
though strangers toss epithets

We are not enemies
though even love goes sour

We are not enemies
just because we can't contain our pain

We are not enemies
though we meet short of our sameness,
the best of each of us lives in the other.

If we can forgive ourselves
we can forgive anyone."