Ixora Press

Poem Highlight

Tribal

Tribal is the fifth poem in the Love section of Reflections on Love, Life & Loss.

A tribe is defined by one Oxford dictionary as “a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader”.

Many of us have been conditioned by mainstream media to associate the words ‘tribe’ or ‘tribal’ with groups portrayed as uneducated, dogmatic, barbaric, or somehow ignorant of the so-called modern world. Because of this, the word ‘tribalism’ often gets used with a negative slant, carrying connotations of identity politics and people sticking with their own side no matter what, even when it goes against logic or fairness.

But that raises an important question: have tribal peoples from around the world been unfairly othered simply for holding on to their way of life within a larger social structure?

I suppose, if we were to imagine their perspective on the global community, we might be surprised at what they think of our reliance on phones, social media and time saving gadgets. They might wonder how disconnected we are from the natural world, replaced by devices no bigger than the palm of our hands. Or perhaps, they don’t think about the rest of the world at all.

The following is the first verse in the poem, Tribal. (As I’ve mentioned before I will not be posting full poems on my blogs to avoid having them scraped for AI training.)  

“One body, one blood, one soul

fused together to make one whole

eyes recognize the likeness of others

The same fruit borne from different mothers.”

But what does this ‘likeness’ really mean when there are so many cultures, ethnicities, and races that often find themselves in conflict? After all, race itself is not a biological reality but a social construct—one that keeps shifting with the tides of geopolitics, economics, history, and culture.

The line, “Eyes recognize the likeness of others” speaks to something deeper than division – it is basic human instinct to find connection and to recognize ourselves in others. From that perspective, tribalism is less about exclusion and more about belonging. Yet the word carries the weight of division, of groups building walls or drawing hard boundaries around themselves in a way words like ‘brotherhood’ and ‘sisterhood’ do not.  Society tends to embrace these terms because they feel more inclusive and palatable, whereas tribalism is often derided as being backward and exclusionary. At their core, however, all three words reflect the same human desire to seek connection, belonging and kinship.

The unassailable truth is that, despite the walls we build or the labels we attach to one another, we are all variations of humanity. As the last line of the poem says, ‘The same fruit borne from different mothers,’ tribalism, brotherhood, sisterhood, fellowship, comradeship—whatever you want to call it—they are all words signaling the same instinct: to belong, to see ourselves in others, and to reach across the chasms of differences when we allow it.

Let’s take a look at the spaces we inhabit every day: workplaces, online communities, hobby groups, or even families. We naturally gravitate towards those who share our experiences and values. Look at your own family, you might notice certain relatives are closer to one another because of shared values or even prejudices. It’s not just about exclusion; it’s about recognition. This instinct to connect with those who resemble us is called ‘homophily.’ Whether it’s shared hobbies, cultural backgrounds, or life experiences, the eyes recognize the likeness of others. And yet, that same instinct can be misunderstood, criticized, or even feared when it appears on a larger scale. Why is that?

When does our desire to connect cross the line into division? Is the instinct to align ourselves to those who look like us something to be feared, distrusted or simply understood? Can recognizing the likeness in others help us bridge differences instead of creating walls?

It’s questions like these that led me to write the final verse of Tribal.

“One heart, one mind, one kind

Look within to seek and to find

That which binds the world as one

A Universal tribe under one sun”.

I imagine – and hope – for a world that acknowledges our differences while celebrating our shared humanity. If only in time, we can truly become a universal tribe under one sun.

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