We and They

By Lucille Clifton

Boris and Yuki and Sarah and Sue
and Karl and Latanya, Maria too
dreamed of the world
and it was spinning
and all the people
just talked about winning
the wind was burning
the water was churning
the trees were bending
Something was ending
and all the talk was "we" and "they"
the children all hugged themselves
waiting for the day
when the night of the long bad dream
is done
and all the family of humans
are one
and being and winning are not the
same
and "we" and "they" is just a game
and the wind is a friend that
doesn't fuss
and every They is
actually Us.

Winter 2001 / 2002