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Banks and Bridges
A river is defined by its opposing banks
which support and contain the life-giving
flow that serves us all. Understanding comes
when we build bridges to connect us.
Will Mathison
A great river flows across the Country
dividing the coastline and mountains,
the valleys and Plains, as it courses
through the towns and cities on its shores.
Residents on either side have differing
Opinions, customs, and needs they find
Important. Each side lacks understanding
Because of the isolation, but both sides
Embrace the river.
The river provides strength to everyone
along the route as well to the distant
cities that are served by tributaries
of this great body of water. All benefit
from the output of resources made possible
by work of this river:
producing power, sustaining crops, helping
the work of the nation, and serving as highways
to share the resources to make us all stronger.
This broad stream, this strong unending power
flows towards the sea, down the slope of the country,
the origin far back in the distance from a seemingly
small beginning but growing bigger and stronger
over time, but strengthened itself by the addition
of a multitude of tributaries that add to it
all along its course of existence.
The same clear spring from which it began
is constantly replenished from the mountain
heights, the showers from above, and some
inner source deep within the earth.
Each bank supports and defines the river
and residents on each side of the land it divides
uses the strength and resources provided
in the way they find most agreeable.
But the river itself cannot exist without these banks
without the support from each side, without the
contribution of flow from the bordering territories.
Neither side, neither bank is strong enough to keep
the river whole and so to serve all the needs
of the nation. And so we all must choose to abide
on one side or another, but bridges of
connection must be built to share in the goods
and good of one another. Bridges of understanding.
Every resident on each side has a role in
shouldering a portion of the burden
to keep our Great River flowing,
reaching out in mutual help to those
in need around us and to those across
the bridges of division, all co-forces
in the noble task of this Great Land.
We all live downstream from fellow citizens,
and across the steam from a large portion of
of our land. It is the bridges,
only the bridges that join us together
increasing the strength in the land on
both sides of the banks
both banks embracing the Great River
that serves us all, sustains us all and is
defined, by design, by these two Banks.
A river is defined by its opposing banks
which support and contain the life-giving
flow that serves us all. Understanding comes
when we build bridges to connect us.
Will Mathison
A great river flows across the Country
dividing the coastline and mountains,
the valleys and Plains, as it courses
through the towns and cities on its shores.
Residents on either side have differing
Opinions, customs, and needs they find
Important. Each side lacks understanding
Because of the isolation, but both sides
Embrace the river.
The river provides strength to everyone
along the route as well to the distant
cities that are served by tributaries
of this great body of water. All benefit
from the output of resources made possible
by work of this river:
producing power, sustaining crops, helping
the work of the nation, and serving as highways
to share the resources to make us all stronger.
This broad stream, this strong unending power
flows towards the sea, down the slope of the country,
the origin far back in the distance from a seemingly
small beginning but growing bigger and stronger
over time, but strengthened itself by the addition
of a multitude of tributaries that add to it
all along its course of existence.
The same clear spring from which it began
is constantly replenished from the mountain
heights, the showers from above, and some
inner source deep within the earth.
Each bank supports and defines the river
and residents on each side of the land it divides
uses the strength and resources provided
in the way they find most agreeable.
But the river itself cannot exist without these banks
without the support from each side, without the
contribution of flow from the bordering territories.
Neither side, neither bank is strong enough to keep
the river whole and so to serve all the needs
of the nation. And so we all must choose to abide
on one side or another, but bridges of
connection must be built to share in the goods
and good of one another. Bridges of understanding.
Every resident on each side has a role in
shouldering a portion of the burden
to keep our Great River flowing,
reaching out in mutual help to those
in need around us and to those across
the bridges of division, all co-forces
in the noble task of this Great Land.
We all live downstream from fellow citizens,
and across the steam from a large portion of
of our land. It is the bridges,
only the bridges that join us together
increasing the strength in the land on
both sides of the banks
both banks embracing the Great River
that serves us all, sustains us all and is
defined, by design, by these two Banks.
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