Us Vs. Them

A poem for humanity

Megan Minutillo
Nov 14, 2023
Photo by Wylly Suhendra on Unsplash

The difference between us and them,

is that they don’t have lungs that need air,
Oh wait, they do,
is that they don’t have hearts that beat -
Oh wait, they do,
is that they don’t shed tears,
or bleed when their skin is pierced,
or find laughter in the little moments —
Oh wait, they do,

the difference between us and them,
is that they must not love their children,
or fear losing what they cherish,
or want to live in peace and laugh a little, too —
oh, but they do.

They, too, feel,
They, too, cry,
They, too, hurt,
They, too, dream,
They, too, wonder,
They, too, want,
They, too, need,
They, too, wish
for a world that stops obsessing about difference
and instead remembers all the humanity
that we share, too.

--

--

Megan Minutillo

Essayist, poet, and theatre producer. I write stories about self-awareness, IVF, and finding your footing in life’s messy moments. Instagram: @meganminutillo.