The Other of the Same
By Gopika Dahanukar
It is not far, your world from my own
Of the same human stuff, we have grown
Our bones and blood in different forms hold
The miracle of being in the stories we are told
What is it then that of us remains?
Am I, of the other, or are you, of the same?
In nature’s arms, we are the human race
In her sky mirror, we have the same face
A species with possibilities, spent in vain
A tribe that rebels, in her enduring pain
What is it then that of us remains?
Am I, of the other, or are you, of the same?
You must be the other so I can with you play
To find out we are journeying, through the same way
We are seen and unseen in this drama of strife
While we encounter the whole in a tiny cell of life
What is it then that of us remains?
Am I, of the other, or are you, of the same?
In the light of your shadow, I can hope to hold you close
In the night of my day, it is the love we can see grows
Together we can, in a world we must meet
Each other and the same rooted on our feet
And moments we should live like never before
Driving them home to the question at our core
What is it that of us remains?
Am I, of the other, or are you, of the same?
Gopika Dahanukar is an artist, a vocalist and a registered therapeutic expressive arts counsellor. She is the Founder and Director of Swahansa Expressive Arts India, a cooperating partner Institute of EGS, teaching in Mumbai and Auroville, an international township in South India based on the ideal of human unity. She is also a trustee of the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation, a non-profit organisation that is leading the way in supporting emerging artists and progressive social action through the arts in India.