I breathed in deeply
the salt
carried by the breeze as it
raced the ocean to the shore.
That ocean called my name
beckoned me to find myself in it
to discover oneness with it
discover the oneness with the current of the ocean
and the longing of my heart
my longing for the world
for stomachs to be filled
for people to dance free
from rods bent across their backs
their shoulders
for power to no longer be used
to abuse
to rise above
to place feet on another’s shoulders
another’s face.
I long
tears form
drop from my heart
form a puddle
in the bottom of my stomach
as his belly grows with emptiness
and her skin bears shades of grey and purple.
I sit amongst the ashes
dust lodged in my throat
I choke
as someone is being stripped
of clothing
self-knowing
behind bolted doors
and stolen passports
and elusive networks.
I long
for we share humanity.
I bleed because he bleeds.
I ache because she is beaten.
I thirst because their crops thirst
the roots of drought reap barrenness.
I hunger for more than this
for she is my sister
and he is my brother
and I am connected
blood relatives of human race.
My longing
a bleeding
from knife wound
wounded by knowing
of man’s hand against flesh
of man’s hand over children
in sugar-cane fields working
backbreaking
sun scorching
pockets lining.
Can a river run from the hearts
of those who bleed compassion
into the hearts of those who are bled empty
scavenging daily for enough
just enough for her son’s belly?
I groan
in song with creation
as violin’s bow slides its belly along strings
one haunting note forevermore
echoing down dark, cool, tunnels
underground.
These tunnels curve through the earth.
These tunnels, the veins of the earth.
One haunting note forevermore
low
gut rumbling
disturbing
molecules of water gather
quietly
solemnly
a funeral’s procession
down veins of the earth.
A flicker of a light
a light that was once
a life that was once
faintly echoing
a memory
of a story that was told once
a story that was us once.
I yearn.
I rage against the boundaries of my capacity
throw myself against the walls of my abilities
the laws and realities of gravity
geography.
My passion
an ocean
waves thrash, crash
love spills out
throws itself forward
stretching to reach someone
comfort someone.
Oh that my empathy
had legs and arms to swim oceans
to fly a plane to you
to hold you
hold you close to my heart
close to my body
that you would feel my comfort
feel my tenderness.
Would you be comforted?
That I would breathe with you
bleed with you.
I guess I do bleed with you.
Bleed within sorrow
within bindings
wound in hunger for power
wound he chooses hunger to feed his daughter
systems wound
around wrists of self-efficacy
independence, security
dependence, instability
maintaining feet upon shoulders.
When will change be?
When will change be?
Real change
systemic change
love change
connecting change.
I long
as many long
in pockets, in networks and fragments,
networking, intertwining resources, skills, knowledge
working to bring change into being
real change
systemic change
love change
connecting change.
Change is coming
but it’s not enough today.