Everyman came to town today: br Didn't roll in effortlessly by the wide white route, br But came the long and narrow way round, br The only way round br Via the hard ground: br Via Montgomery, br Via adversity and history: br Via Dolorosa, br Nunc Via Gloriosa. br br He looked like me – br Though we share nothing remotely br In the way of height or weight, br Neither colour nor race. br Still we looked the same br In the singular mirror of that moment. br br He resounded in me; br Struck a chord so deep below the waterline br I felt sea speak to sea br And hope's high tide of possibility br Drown dither and doubt and float free br A whole fleet of opportunity br To catch the winds of change br That wait beyond the lee of party politics and nationality. br br Friends, though we've never met br And almost certainly never will br Outside those quiet places of the soul br Where we share and dare wonder br Who, how, what if and why not, br I hope he'd recognise me, on sight: br I'm not of the US, br But I am of the kind of 'us' br That is ready for the kind of United States of Mind br He has in mind.