From One To They - Radha Devaraj
I came across this poem in a video recording initiated by an organisation called #BeTheRipple (https://www.betheripple.co.uk/) It touched me immediately for Radha's assembly of such "simple" words capture the reality so powerfully and vividly. So I decided to read and record it myself. May this little poem help us ponder on what we can do for #diversity and #inclusion, and also find strength if we happen to be the "one".
They say we need to smile, but together, they smother a smile
They say team, but together, they exclude one
They say collaboration, but together, they make it a nightmare for one
They say flexibility, but together, they are rigid for one
They say empathy, but together, they are cruel for one
They say teamwork, but together, they destroy one's work
They say understanding, but together, they destroy reputation for one
They say appreciation, but together, they deny this to one
They say growth, but together, they curb this for one
They say fun, but together, they keep one in tears
They say cheers, but together, they put down one
They say trust, but together, they hoard to shake one
Who is this 'One'?
The one they do not accept
The one they do not want to be accepted
The one they do not want to be honoured
The one they do not want to be heard
The one they do not want to respect
The one they want to avoid
The one they do not want to clap for
Yet, that 'One' can clap for all
One can still smile to defeat the pain
One can still be clear without being clever to destroy- that is the strength of one.
Feel proud to be 'one' when 'they' did not come to you
Life has to go on even if you are one
Until you support another one
To bind many 'ones' into kind 'they'
