IT IS IN THIS HALL

IT IS IN THIS HALL

It is in this hall
that I witness and I see
students of different
nationalities, backgrounds and ethnicities
seeking new pathways through education to attain felicity

It is in this hall
that I witness and I see
professionals of varying
citizenships, families and racial categories
making new headway into life through intellectual exegesis

It is in this hall
that I witness and I see
many of us here hide in our rooms to study
hardly mix around and integrate with others
into a melting pot of identities I profoundly worry

It is in this hall
that I witness and I see
opportunities to understand each other
are abound if we could see with a visionary sight
for we are the future leaders of a global community

It is in this hall
that I witness and I see
hope for a better future of humanity
are there to be nutured and developed
for we are the beacons of unity and a bright future indeed

It is in this hall
that I witness and I see
if only we could move out from
the comfort zone of nationality and ethnicity
the problem of prejudice and biasness will erode certainly

It is in this hall
that I witness and I see
prospect and challenges for us to take heed
for it us that will lead our society soon it will be
come let us be together in this pursuit of integrating
before the curtains of this hall draw upon us eventually.

Syed Ad'ha
Toad Hall@ANU
12 March 2009
3:30pm