Ubuntu Revisited Poem by Jim Yerman

There was an anthropological study conducted on the children of an African tribe…
that I shall attempt as best I can…in this poem…to now describe.

A basket of fruit was placed under a tree…the children told to be fast and resolute
because the first one to the basket gets to eat all of the fruit.

When they were told RUN! ..they didn't run at first…instead like birds of a feather
each child took the hand of the child next to them…then they ran to the basket…together.

They smiled as they ran together…fast and resolute
together they reached the basket…and together…they ate the fruit

When asked why they chose to run that way…"UBUNTU" said one lad…
while another added, "How can any one of us be happy…if any one of us is sad? "

In South Africa the word UBUNTU…means ‘I am because we are'
It's a belief we're defined by our compassion and our kindness towards others…
and its meaning travels far

for every culture, every civilization…across the land, the sky, and every sea
has a word with a similar meaning…In America…it's humanity.

It's a simple word…humanity…that, like UBUNTU, has allure…a definite attraction
but it remains only a word…until we put it into action.

I'm glad to see so many cultures have their own UBUNTU as part of their folklore…
I think, however, the entire world…need to practice their UBUNTU a little more.

We need to spread humanity so our UBUNTU travels far….
We need to teach the world UBUNTU…'I am because we are'.

I hope someday we follow the example of the children…
who understood they could be fast and resolute…
but only when they joined hands…together…
could they all enjoy the fruit.