As a five month trip through Central & South America came to an end - including a life-changing journey through Peru - I sat down to journal some thoughts, but instead it came out as a poem...
I AM YOU
I am staring out the window, as the day wakes from its slumber;
And the leaves all glisten softly with the early morning dew;
The sheer beauty of it stirs me, to the point it makes me wonder;
Why does everyone not feel the joy I do?
Then when I see the morning headlines, my mood instantly turns glum;
It's full of people all just trying to survive;
Just how much suffering there is, to this I realise I was numb;
How often do we really think of others' lives?
I'm a winner of life's jackpot, with a family who loves me,
And a path to education and to what I want to do;
For the country I was born in, had it all laid out before me;
I had freedom, safety, choices, this is true.
And I once took it for granted, this charmed life that I was gifted;
But I've had the chance to travel and to see things as they are;
Thanks to this my eyes are open, my awareness has now shifted;
And I now feel love for others, near and far.
But I watch our so-called leaders, try control us all through fear;
They make us think we're under siege, that we're at war;
They make us shun those who are different, we are not to let them near;
These ugly thoughts are hurting us right to our core.
We must tighten up the borders! Cut benefits! Reduce welfare!
We hear this howl and shriek repeated from the right;
But we can't let them divide us, the world they want is so unfair;
Unless you're male, and you are straight and rich and white.
For the gap keeps growing more, between the haves and the have-nots;
And those that have, don't seem to want to pay their share;
Tax evasion is so common, by the ones who call the shots;
Tell me this - do they even really care?
It's been said it's human nature, to want to take more than is mine;
But why should some have so much more compared to all?
This attitude of greed, is one we need to realign;
Without a change we're surely headed for a fall.
And as the US goes to vote, I truly hope they hear our calls;
For if Repubs get that top job we're in the muck;
I watch these monsters from afar, promoting hate and building walls;
I mean seriously American friends, WTF?
But it causes me great pain to say my own birthplace is bad;
In its treatment of the people, who were there right from the start;
How does this not cause great anger, embarrass us and make us mad?
When we know Australia's history has no heart?
For in my beloved homeland, where the kangaroos roam freely;
It's a place of sun and sand and surf where beaches run for miles;
But my country has a crisis, if you look you can see clearly;
The first Australians have tears behind those smiles.
There are tribes who had been living, for as long we can think of;
And the land and they were joined in ways we barely understand;
A tragedy for them then happened, instead of greeting them with love;
White men came and said that they now owned the land.
So a message to my brothers, in the distant lands you're living;
And my sisters who are found in all the corners of the Earth;
We don't all want to be divided, and if you can be forgiving;
Our relationship can have a whole new birth.
You could share with us your customs, show us the error of our ways;
Teach us once again to treat the Earth with love, respect and pride;
This we seem to have forgotten, soon it will cause the end of days;
We can't win this thing without you on our side.
We are losing all that wisdom, and traditions and all knowledge;
And the skills that we all need to live in peace upon this land;
So instead of this division, why don't we try to build a bridge;
And instead we take our cousins by the hand.
And I pray we heed the warning, of a planet that is bleeding;
And the experts who all tell us that we're running out of time;
Cruel polluters hold us hostage, chasing profit despite our pleading;
Where's the justice? How are these acts not a crime?
Now although I'm not religious, I do believe there is a God,
Only my God is that spark of life existing in us all;
Call it love or call it spirit, whatever name gives you the prod;
Then listen close, your heart will help you hear the call.
For I am God and God is me, and you are God and God is you;
And God exists within the rocks, the flowers, rivers and the trees;
You can find God in the mountains, feel the love within the view;
And hear the whisper of the spirit in the breeze.
So when we damage our one planet, we cause deep pain to ourselves;
Are we really too asleep to know the damage being done?
For this affects us all together, the Earth exists within our cells;
Do we really not believe that we are one?
I have travelled near and far, and this has opened up my eyes;
For the veil of illusion has been lifted;
I have taken off the blinkers, so I now see beyond the lies;
And finally I feel my consciousness has shifted.
There is so much goodness out there, I can see it as I wander;
And it's when I meet these people that I feel joy in my heart;
I sure don't have all the answers, and each day there's more to ponder;
But by showing more compassion, it's a start.
We are drops of one vast ocean, joined in the same big cosmic dance;
Connected each of us, and that my friends is true;
And we are all in this together, so it's now time to make this stance;
For you are me, brothers and sisters, and I am you.
- Matt Julian, Peru, April 2016 🇵🇪