I am the son of my mother,
the brother of my siblings,
the father of my children
—most men can say the same.

I am a son of Wharfedale,
proud to have been born there
—if you are of Airedale
I don’t hold it against you.

I am of the West Riding and
consider it great
—If you are East or North
that’s fine by me.

I am a Yorkshireman and
privileged to be so
—as you may be a proud
Lancastrian or Geordie.

I am pleased to be English
And British as well
—if you’re Scots, Welsh or Irish
can’t we still be friends?

By halakhah I am not a Jew
because my mother wasn’t
—but still I can be prouder than
my father that he was.

I am white, and guilt comes with it,
but if you can truly say,
‘I am black and comely, O daughters of Salem,’
I will rejoice for you.

I am human with all that implies,
and if you are human too
—we are children of the same power,
nurtured by the same earth.

Jonathan Atkinson
1 July 2019