I am the son of my mother,
the brother of my siblings,
the father of my children
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09– most men can say the same.

I am a son of Wharfedale,
proud to have been born there
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09– if you are of Airedale
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09I don’t hold it against you.

I am of the West Riding and
consider it great
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09– If you are East or North
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09that’s fine by me.

I am a Yorkshireman and
privileged to be so
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09– as you may be a proud
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09Lancastrian or Geordie.

I am pleased to be English
And British as well
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09– if you’re Scots, Welsh or Irish
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09can’t we still be friends?

By halakhah I am not a Jew
because my mother wasn’t
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09– but still I can be prouder than
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09my father that he was.

I am white, and guilt comes with it,
but if you can truly say,
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09‘I am black and comely, O daughters of Salem,’
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09I will rejoice for you.

I am human with all that implies,
and if you are human too
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09– we are children of the same power,
Screen Shot 2019-07-15 at 16.14.09nurtured by the same earth.

Jonathan Atkinson
1 July 2019