welcome (...world)

Just words…
In need of explanation…
What might one expect
Families
Small groups of native peoples
Might have felt
When the latest immigrants 
Began to come
And never stopped
Coming…
These immigrants 
Arrived on tall ships
Bringing new tools and instruments
Practiced strange customs
And new definitions of 
Who spoke for who
And what
Was at stake
And to who…
What law applied 
To different groups of people
We are people, too…
Unless we are prepared…
To give these words life
For they
Have no meaning 
Without 
Giving of yourself
If you have ever
Experienced
The feeling of 
Warmth,

 friendship and respect
a dear friend
Or family member
Or the perfect stranger
What would you expect
Of Your guests
Smoke the peace pipe
And think of…
A lasting respectful...

 
friendship

 C2