When music teaches us

I grew up in a house filled with music — 

Mostly classical (my Mom was a pianist) 

Or religious (both parents sang in the choir) 

Or my favorite — at least as a child — 

The soundtracks of Hollywood musicals. 

So of course, on seeing this photo, 

The song that whispers in my brain 

Is Bali Hai, from South Pacific — 

Which is inevitably paired with 

“You’ve got to be taught, before it’s too late, 

Before you are six, or seven, or eight, 

To hate all the people your relatives hate; 

You’ve got to be carefully taught.” 

… And the good news is, that musical taught me 

Before I was six, or seven, or eight, 

About the evils of prejudice — 

 For which I will always be grateful.