Human Family

I note the obvious differences
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.

Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
and others claim they really live
the real reality.

The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.

I've sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land,
I've seen the wonders of the world
not yet one common man.

I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I've not seen any two
who really were the same.

Mirror twins are different
although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side.

We love and lose in China,
we weep on England's moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we're the same.

I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.

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AnnaliseA - Great poem
on May 01 06:58 AM   x   rate: , ,   skip edit
AJeL4 - It seems silly for me to comment on her work but....there you go..brilliantly done as usual
on Jan 10 08:51 AM   x    edit
Rianonfire - Your poems are contagious, I want to keep reading
on Dec 14 11:58 AM   x    edit
Tina8 - Lovely... This was really touching & inspiring.. 👌 loved it.. ❤
on May 20 02:59 AM   x    edit
- Love this. Amazing write, thanks for sharing.

Nicely done
on Jan 24 2019 11:55 AM   x    edit
Benathor - Unbearable. This lady was a hack!
on Jan 05 2019 08:01 PM   x    edit
- kudos

Great
on Jan 01 2019 06:23 PM   x    edit
Samson Shillitoe - Her sentiments hold true. Just read Bukowski, too. Stark, stark contrasts separates the two; and yet, they are more alike, like me and you.
on Jan 01 2019 04:23 AM   x    edit
Mensah E. N - The Human Family

One family,
With obvious differences
I note.

Some serious.
Some comedic.
Some live of true profundity,
Some live the real reality.

I note,
The varied skin tones
That confuse, delight, bemuse
Brown and pink and beige and purple,
Tan and blue and white and maple.

I've sailed the seven seas
I've stopped in every land,
I've seen the Wonders of the World...
...not yet one common man.

I know ten thousand Janes
Ten thousand Mary Janes,
...not yet any two who really were the same.

Mirror twins quite differ ,
Their features  jibing still
Lovers' thoughts yet differ,
In deed and in will

We love and lose in China,
Weep on England's moors,
Then laugh and moan in Guinea,
We thrive on Spanish shores.

We seek success in Finland,
Are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
In major we are same.

One family,
With obvious differences
I note.
Between each sort and type

Yet more alike, than  unalike...

More alike than unalike...

More alike than unalike...

*Thank you for reminding us that we are more alike than unalike*
on Dec 31 2018 12:11 AM   x    edit
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- "and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side"

so true...........lovers have their own secret language Amazing
on Dec 02 2018 12:19 AM   x    edit
Rafaela171 - I didn't really expected anything special when I started reading this poem, but it really touched me. It is really deep and meaningful.

Clever job
on Nov 09 2018 03:48 PM   x    edit
Tuniabjc - I've always loved her writings and took inspirations from some of them

Lovely
on Jul 29 2018 11:30 AM   x    edit

Comments from the archive

- From guest James (contact)
i did his poem for a devirscity day!!!! it was fun
on Feb 16 2010 01:40 AM   x    edit
- From guest anu (contact)
it sounds better as 'we are more alike than unlike' rather than "unalike"....dont you think?
on Oct 01 2009 11:40 AM   x    edit
- From guest SeRgIo (contact)
it deep it made me cry
on Apr 22 2009 09:33 AM   x    edit
- From guest megalow! (contact)
nice one,ha!
on Mar 19 2009 08:13 AM   x    edit
- From guest *loren(: (contact)
woahh this poem is the coolest poem ever for suree! i love it!
on Mar 18 2009 07:29 AM   x    edit
- From guest Charlie Nall (contact)
i love this poem it is tha shiznit
on Mar 17 2009 06:54 AM   x    edit
- From guest Charlie Nall (contact)
i love this poem
on Mar 17 2009 06:54 AM   x    edit
- From guest sara taylor (contact)
i like this poem its one my favorite!!
on Mar 13 2009 02:47 AM   x    edit
- From guest jonathan (contact)
hey dis is jonathon i am a big fan..
on Feb 11 2009 01:07 AM   x    edit
- From guest Elwen (contact)
I've heard it first from a podcast about understanding race. Its the way Maya read the poem that made it more effective. Its one of the questions that bothered me the most. Why do we need to classify things and rate them in our own judgment?
on Oct 03 2007 03:33 AM   x    edit
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- From guest Guilia (contact)
This poem by far describes how society is!
on Apr 29 2007 11:17 AM   x    edit
I-Like-Rhymes - I've seen the wonders of the world
not yet one common man.
A great way to say that everyone is different and has about them something unique and worth celebrating.
Despite the ending of the poem I feel that that is the message. EVERYBODY is different and thank God for it. Differences are not necessarily bad.
on Apr 11 2007 02:26 AM   x    edit
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Ink of Age - I love the reptition somethingto think about on this author

"we ar more alike then we are unalike
on Apr 10 2007 02:25 AM   x    edit
- Thats most definitly what it is. Head down to you Ms. Angelou (meaning I bow down) for that there is the truth and the truth is most definitly what it is!!
on Nov 10 2004 03:54 AM   x    edit
pozo - I liked this poem of hers and the way it was written with so much honesty, we're all different. The purple thing made me wonder though... I've never met anyone who was purple. I liked this write of hers a lot, it was so true- everyone is different.
on Aug 03 2004 04:23 AM   x    edit
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