"We Are Not Enemies, But Friends"...

Obama's Victory speech (2:17-2:27)

American History X (0:39-0:50)

So one of my friends produced a song titled 'Keep Your Friends Closer' with no words apart from this quote at the end.

And I was intrigued by it and wondered where it was from. When I researched and found out it was from a speech by Abraham Lincoln, I was shocked! I found the quote to be very inspiring and I was moved. I was moved because it was so true. I am a very religious person, so my thoughts went straight to psalm 122. This is a psalm that has made me shed tears because what it speaks about. It gives me hope about where I am going in the future, but also leaves me in deep thoughts about the current state the world is in, and how divided we are. So, I wrote a poem inspired by my friends song and the speech.

Keep Your Friends Closer - poem (27.03.2011)

“We are not enemies, but friends.

We must not be enemies.

Though passion may have strained,

it must not break the bonds of our affection.” - Abraham Lincoln

We are all together in this.

You, me,

We are together, all one family.

It is the closeness that we share

that will keep us tightly compacted together.

One unit, one body, for all we have is each other.

Although it may not seem a lot

the truth is, it is greater than anything else in this world.

For we come from an even greater family in another realm.

So let us join hands, and hold on with our dear lives.

With all of our strength.

Because it is with the help of each other that we will survive

This mean, nasty, cruel world in which we live in.

The one that is under the evil doers spell.

The reason why so many of us are destined to hell.

But when we depart from each other

and fight like enemies

we cause ourselves to fall, like Adam and Eve in Genesis.

When we have world wars

and refuse to help our brothers and sisters

the distance between us becomes greater

And we never find peace

Because we have shunned peace away

and so we are left alone and astray

This is why we must not be enemies, but friends.

When we are friends, life becomes easier to bear

And no more will we have to cry tears.

Even when trouble comes our way

and though passion may have strained

If we are close, surely we can still maintain?

That everlasting love between us all

For we shall not let the bad things break the bonds of our affection

And instead, continue on with devotion and determination.

So march forth, oh yeah people

Into a world named Zion,

And carry on I tell you, carry on.

Into a world full of hope and promises which can never be broken

Because they were made by an unbreakable person.

Inspired by Abraham Lincoln's speech, and a song by Jean Luc.