I pledge allegiance to the person
you believe yourself to be
and to the one you see
yourself becoming—
that kaleidoscope of possibility.

One world, many nations,
identities, beliefs, and ways 
of living, every single soul 
existing in a universe 
that craves connection.

The light in me bows
to that same light in you,
each of us here together
in this space and time,
life undivided, liberty to all.

Our common hopes—
to live in peace, 
existential needs satisfied, 
with the means to live fully 
the person we came here to be.  

With my whole heart, I want to exist 
where acceptance reigns,
where our priority is to be kind 
to one another, hands extended 
in offering, remembering 

how very much we are the same.

~

(image: Naturalization candidates take the Oath of Allegiance during a 2020 naturalization ceremony at the Palladium)