NO MEN ARE FOREIGN

NO MEN ARE FOREIGN...........

Summary

Let us reflect on the opening lines of this thoughtful and very noble poem.

“Remember, no men are strange, no countries foreign

Beneath, all uniforms, a single body breathes.”

The poem begins by asking us to constantly remind ourselves that no human being is strange or different.  Beneath the superficial surface of our bodies, all human beings have hearts, minds and souls.  The lines also drive home the point about the futility of war.  All those who have divisive mindsets, or are caught up in war, need to remember that behind such superficial “uniforms” are living and breathing human beings just like you and me.

Now, read and reflect on the next few lines of this thoughtful poem.  The poem beautifully builds upon the theme of the humanity in each human being.  Each and every line tries to raise our level of consciousness to a deeper and spiritual level.

“Like ours: the land our brothers walk upon,

Is earth like this, in which we all shall lie,

They too aware of sun, air, and water

Are fed by peaceful harvests, by war’s long winter starv’d.”

Their hands are ours, and in their lines we read,

A labor not different from our own.”

Each and every land like each and every human being is nourished by sun, air and water.  People may have adapted to different conditions and situations, but we are all one in the spirit.  We are all able to sustain our lives during peacetime and would starve to death if wars disrupt on earth.  Any division of labor is in fact superficial, and our hands, whether we are in a digital field, an agricultural field or any other field, speak of the humanity in us with hearts, souls and minds capable of loving, feeling and thinking.

Now, reflect on the next few lines.

“Remember that they have eyes that wake,

Or sleep, and strength that can be won

By love”

The poet here again reminds us of the humanity in each human being.  We all wake up each new day with hope and then take rest.  It is only love that can really keep humanity going.   With love and looking at each human being with kindness, we can truly create a paradise-like situation on earth.

Now, read and introspect on the following lines.

“Let us remember, whenever we are told

To hate our brothers, it is ourselves,

That we shall dispossess, betray and condemn”

The poet then reminds us that by trying to hate and even exploit others and their lands, we will be betraying and condemning ourselves.  Such kind of exploitation will only lead to superficial short-term success and no deep or spiritual kind of redemption.

Now, read the very compelling closing lines of the poem.

“Remember, we who take arms against each other

It is the human earth that we defile

Our hells of fire and dust outrage the innocence

Of air that is everywhere our own,

Remember, no men are foreign, and no countries strange.”

In the last lines of this compelling poem, the poet again reminds us that taking “arms against each other,” that is war, is in fact futile.  The very human earth is ruined through war, hatred and exploitation of any kind.  The earth can become ravaged and polluted through war and exploitation with the constant firing, destruction and piling up of dust and debris.  The air that we breathe also becomes polluted as a result.  The poet ends with the refrain “no men are foreign, and no countries strange.”  We need to constantly remember that we are all one in the spirit and encourage mutual respect, discussion and dialogue for a truly humane, just and sustainable world in the future.