Written piece
Thread of Humanity
Zaakira Ebrahim
South Africa
About this piece
This submission is about the link and connection between people, strangers, and how everyone comes together in unison. The idea that we are in this together is so beautiful. We are connected beyond borders, and in this way we have a shared humanity.
Thread of Humanity
I once embarked on a journey to a foreign land
Across oceans and channels
I looked to my right and found that there were people just like me
I looked to my left and found that I shared the same values as those around me
Through my travels, I discovered so much beauty
Children playing and laughing
I soaked up the feeling of resonance
These people, they belonged with me
I smiled at a woman holding a baby
I reached out to the old man walking by himself in the park
These threads of humanity
This feeling of connectedness
I found love and hope in these shared experiences
I found joy in this invisible thread of belonging
Our shared humanity
Our joy to behold
A smile danced on my lips as I stood up to embrace my mother
She had been there for me through all of my challenges
How do we tell the stories of our forefathers
The threads that lead us to the paths we take
Together we can hold each other steady
This thread of humanity brings us ever so close
Gently weaving its way into each of our hearts
Let us hold on forevermore
Never letting go of this diversity