Eyes Closed Poem by William Kofoed

With my eyes closed
I cannot see
the color of their skin
if they're fat or thin
my judgments fall away
and who I think they are
I must talk with them
and listen to their words
to know who they are

with my eyes closed
when I hear their cries
of their hunger and their pains
and hear their joyful songs
when they laugh with joy
then they are the same

just like you and I
when I listen to them
they are the very same
when I close my eyes

when I close my eyes
and when I listen to them
we are the very same
there is not them and I