To the Activist

yesterday-

-

The thermostat was recorded at over 400F-

The sky breathed fire-

The ground spewed lava-

The tops of eyelids were stapled to foreheads-

The bottoms of eyelids were sewn to cheekbones-

Excruciating truths were revealed-

People were uncomfortable-

Discussions were being had-

Unprecedented progress was aching to sprout through concrete-

-

today-

-

The response to the efforts of change-

Is rollbacks on human rights like they were Walmart prices-

Wombs being held hostage by the government-

With women's lives being the ransom price-

There are nationally syndicated mass shootings-

Airing on rotation-

An education system continuing to gloss over the brutal realities of America-

The government trying to perform tracheotomies on its voters-

And so on, and so on

The marginalized and the oppressed being shoved into compactors-

To be contained, restricted, and immobilized-

-

tomorrow-

-

The revolution is on a loop-

The push back to change is always devastating-

Repetitive efforts meant to issue a cease and desist to those who rattle the system-

And after everyone else gotten bored-

Once the fatigue of it all sets the fighting spirit of all of us who want change into rigor mortis-

And while the powers that be are doing victory laps-

The activist lives on-

The activist carries our torch-

The activist speaks for our muted voices-

The activist endures-

So to the activist-

THANK YOU-

Thank you for surrendering your life to causes-

To human beings like yourself whose lives matter-

THANK YOU-

I hope that one day I will have an inkling of your strength