Melt

Nobody knows

Just exactly what to do

With hands so small,

Full with signs and

plastic-printed whistles;

Poor armor when set

Against hard metal and

Hot

Bullets.

Our fear whispers:

“Stay inside, safe in

Darkened houses, wait

For danger to pass,

Surely someone is coming

To cry for reason,

To speak out

Against brutality,

Someone with the power

And knowledge of law

And order.”

But despite the horror,

In spite of the riot

Within our pounding hearts,

We step out

Into the streets

And it is freezing, but still

There is a warmth in our

Shared purpose.

We should be

At work,

At school,

Shopping for our

Families, but there are

People trapped by

Bars or threats, and so

We walk,

We stand,

We sing,

We share,

And in this we build

Something they cannot

Break: a blueprint

For others, an

Understanding for our fellows.

Because the world is watching,

Because they are coming,

But we are pretty good

At speaking Truth,

And together, we are more

Than they expected.

We surge, a wave

Warm enough

To melt

The ice.