The Friendship Bracelet - by Cristina Roe

This article exchanged by travellers and made up of multicolured strands of thread, specially in Israel and adjoining regions, is as the name suggests a symbol of friendship which the entire region could do with right now.  In no way do I mean any offence.  My poem only expresses the wish that peoples could join together and be less isolationist.

A people scared, a people proud,
That wears its culture like a shroud,
A loyalty entrenched, misplaced,
From origins that can’t be traced

It busies like a silk worm spins
It rarely sinks but neither swims
The gasp of kinship, large and round
A void of rasping breathless sound

A courage shared, a courage known,
A bended knee, a crying moan,
A duty done, a day of rest,
A dreary, weary beaten breast

Look up, look out and not too soon
Emerge from coffin of cocoon
Breathe in the air and rub the eye
And recognise the land and lie


Shake off the safety belt of gold
Engage the clever mind of old
Find joys, find sadness, hopes and wrongs
Join with the hub of human tongues.

A welcome earned, a welcome won,
An ancient legacy begun
A seat of honour, crown of dew
The morning mists will bring to you

The flowing tresses will command
Respect, belonging through the land,
A shining strength your lot entail
With eyes unhindered by the veil 

Cristina Roe ©