Icons, heroines, mavericks like

Marsha P and Fannie Lou

We do this cuz of them

They did this for you

We give

Flowers to the Fearless

and middle fingers to the law

cuz it’s meant to trample us

and empower colonial empire

Where a few get tall on the

downfall of the many

So what’s the remedy?

What does it mean to care

for a neighbor in need

To be on the scene when times

are rough, and the kids are bleedin’

I need: empathy, compassion, a listening ear

I have: This body, my breath, all the time in the world

Breathe in, serenity

Breathe out, assuredness

Breathe in, protection

Breathe out, knowingness

How do we define these conflicts

Is it really us and them?

What makes us “us” to begin with

and why can’t they stand us?

Why can’t they stand with us

to rebuild this world

Nevertheless, here we stand

We, by our sides, pieces of humankind

remaking a liberation recipe:

safety, freedom, dignity, desire

Finding the highest quality ingredients

and

making due with what we have now

Author’s note: I found this poem searching through older journals, seeking to access wisdom from my past self. This comes from around June of 2023. Some of the language reminds me of sayings from Toni Morrison – her and Audre Lorde recently had a shared birthday, February 18th. This is dedicated to the legends and our lineages.