Building Bridges

Creative Contributions POEMS Building Bridges By: Carlos Rosas-Jiménez How many centuries have we been put aside? We don't even want to remember. We don't want to go back. But we must go back And remember What others have done To our ancestors. Because we know That this is the only way To truly heal Our many wounds. We have many We have many wounds. But we know now That these wounds Have left scars. And these scars Are now part Of who we are. Like small And great rewards, These scars, Are little And big proofs, That we fought In a battle We were in. It is not easy, Not easy at all To think About forgiveness But we know Creative Contributions • 37 That the burden We cannot carry Any longer. We feel that forgiveness gives us power. The power to make others surrender For they have no more, over us. And cannot prevent That we forgive them. We have learned to build. To build in And with nature. We have always tried, Tried to build bridges With nature, Our beloved. So now we try To build a bridge Between us And them. We are afraid. afraid To go Through this bridge. We are afraid, But we also know That we do not answer As they did. We change the story We change the ending. We have the power When we build Bridges. We have the power When we accept That over those bridges They can walk. Because we never lose the game When we build Bridges Creative Contributions • 38 We lose When we build walls Like they did When they push us aside. Some of them tried, Tried to build bridges We barely remember. But it was Not enough. Because walls Were also built. But we are grateful For the good intentions Of some of them For the good Deeds Of some of them For what we have learned For we could also teach When we could. We learned Other ways To build bridges. So now we are Seriously committed. We continue To be active To build bridges Whenever we can. But we also Do not want To destroy Those bridges And do not want To build walls. We are tired Of being behind walls! No more of that! The past can be repeated! We don't want that! We implore! Creative Contributions • 39 We have hope! We try to smile! We also cry! Don't make us cry! We won't make you cry! Let's share! Let's enjoy! Let's take care! Let's hope! Let's build! Let's reconcile! Let's show respect! Let's reject Whatever divides! Let's accept Whatever unites! Let's preserve Our community life! Creative Contributions • 40