And now we are here
From new years
Where we were sharing hugs and cheers
Planning our 2020 month by month
Not knowing in weeks to come
Our days would accentuate every hour
To be felt and filled
With spontaneous moments of gratitude
For what used to feel little
On one side of the book
I would side with the idea not to complain
Because how can I…
When I see each morning?
And gratitude feels like
Leaving your house for the first time in a week
Taking strides down the street
Because being outside
With fresh air hitting your skin
Feels human
Yet if I turned the page to tomorrow
And read that it rained
And no one got drenched outside
But rather many were indoors
And some were in sorrow,
How can I not be concerned…
When others are mourning
And their tears are being turned into stats
That are rolled over each morning
And we are still pulling the rug to reveal injustices
We are not done with discrimination
Despite our determination
To put it behind us
It’s seen within crisis
Imbedded in system
Subtly given a licence
But we will disarm it
Before it does us
Like we have worked before
Speaking, studying, understanding
Advising, reversing, breaking down
And building up what ought to be
But what good is a piece of infrastructure
If it has no light
I am reminded of the busker last week
Who sang in the middle of the street
That Jesus is mighty to save
And maybe the activist’s pain is helped
By the promise of a better eternity
I am prodded to pray
That their tears would be wiped away
Stop for a moment
When someone is in need
And if they ask about faith
I would say Jesus
Here, now and forevermore
To be your helping hand
Even before I lend mine