Inspirational Poetry

In Those Years

In those years, people will say, we lost track
of the meaning of we, of you
we found ourselves
reduced to I
and the whole thing became silly,ironic, terrible:
we were trying to live a personal life
and, yes, that was the only life
we could bear witness to

 

But the great dark birds of history screamed and plunged
into our personal weather
They were headed somewhere else but their beaks and pinions drove
along the shore, through the rags of fog
where we stood, saying I

 

Truly understand we, not you.

The first lines of this poem are important for everyone to think about, but even more so for people who want to make a difference in the world; People who want to change the world. You see the poem talks about the meaning of we and you. It is saying that often people go in with the intention to help a community, a group, or a country, but they don’t see it as “we”. Instead, they see the situation as me helping them, or as “you” helping the “we”. This is the difference between walking through and walking in. The main takeaway here is that when you go into a situation try and disregard “What’s in it for me”, try and disregard seeing them as different than yourself, and, most of all, try to disregard the difference between we and you- really try to act and feel like you were the person you are trying to help.

Leadership

The poem says that many times people fail to truly put themselves in the mindset of another and are therefore “reduced to I”. Then the whole thing unravels and becomes “silly,ironic”. This is because, as a leader in any capacity, you must show a deep concern for those you are trying to change, so much so that the people can truly feel like you are on their side. It doesn’t matter if it is your children or a community based group. You have to not be “reduced to I”. For example, you want your children to feel as if you are on their side. In order to do that, you might say something like “what is your goal”, “That’s a good goal, I tell you what, I’m going to help you with this goal. We’re going to think alike on this, and every time I see you moving off the path for your goal I’m going to remind you and help you out.” This type of thinking makes a person feel like you are on their side. And when you correct your children or you suggest changes, they see it as being helpful because you are a part of the “we”; you are fighting this fight together with them.

Rags of Fog

How we talk and relate to one another is one of the most important skills to master. It is also one of the most important hurdles whenever you want to change something. The poem ends with the lines “along the shore, through the rags of fog where we stood, saying I”.  It is warning to all of us that unless you truly are perceived as being on their side, then you will always find resistance. You must make them have the view that you are helping them achieve their goals! When you do this you lift the rags of fog from your eyes, and you are able to leave the shoreline. Thus you are no longer “reduced to I.”

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