By Bryan Hayes
You are welcome at my table,
Come and share a cup of tea,
With all my friends, you’re invited.
Let’s break bread, you and me.
We will, for you, hold space,
Extend our arms and open our hearts,
With love and understanding,
As that is where the healing starts.
As you sit next to me,
At the same table, but worlds apart,
The other’s place
Neither I nor you can take,
But we can lead with our hearts.
As someone who’s never sat at your table,
I cannot claim to know your pain,
The weight of prejudice, the sting of hate,
Dehumanization, and stigmatization
I cannot begin to know your suffering.
As someone who’s never sat in your seat,
I cannot pretend to feel your pain,
The weight of your struggle, the depth of your suffering,
The torment you endure, I won’t try in vain
To understand what it’s like to be in your chair
No matter how I sympathize,
Even though I aim to lead with empathy,
There is no way of truly living
With your fear or knowing what you go through,
But ours is a table of giving.
Knowing full well that whatever we share,
I can never fully go there, to be in your seat.
Your story – it is yours, yours alone,
And it is your truth, it is where we meet.
I will greet you where you are,
I want to assure you, you are not alone,
In this space of sanctuary, we cast off masks,
And let our true selves be known.
The door is open, the table set,
If chairs are few or the table short,
We’ll extend both, like open hearts,
To ensure you find love and support.
So join me, my new friend,
In this place where,
Even if there is not enough room,
We’ll always find another chair
For you.