we cannot endure

I'm conflicted because

I'm told

I've got no place

in this space

to stake a claim

to feel for your pains

for the future

but how do I

reach out to you

past years built on walls

of doubts from closed minded

agendas to silence

Different trees

Different leaves

without you

I wouldn't have grown

into a tree worth being;

without

your passion

your colors your songs

without soul and roots

to ground us, make us whole

what I mean is

I see you, your colors

and I always have

singing in skylines

wave-breaks, and crest peaks

In embers, horizons

and in these colors, carry

laughing and joy and heartbreaks

in songs that carry on

beating in fury

to discard hatred

from the wounds

I've felt that rage too

Injustice's bruises

I'm grateful, I'm confused

I can't explain it or excuse

or step in the way

for these unfortunate truths

I can't heal pains away

I can't undo what's been done

we look at these sorrows

and ask to the sky,

what the fuck?

For the cruelty and the divide

who's to blame, who's to shame

put a name to end the violence

to give peace to our babies

but we know

that it's fear that consumes

that it's not about differences

It's power being used

to move what can't be moved:

us against us, the mortals

and our songs they all die

we pass them on to rest

bones beneath sun

but some of us can't

just can't let go of being immortal

who need to hang on to all of it, all of it All

that's enough now

you're killing us all

and draining the world

and we're tired, exhausted

fed up with your fears

sorrow's fatiguing the earth

let in the colors

and let go the rest

let go the fears, put hatred to bed

Old rulers, listen instead:

this will not endure

no mountain of bodies will ensure

a path to your Eden

paved in the blood of brothers and sisters

painted in the palette

in the spectrum

used to flood cities with greed

and drown fools to breed victims

lawmakers with creeds

strike down unity,

tax freedoms

eat the resources

but never look to friends in the neighbors

or see the stepping stones as people

slaves were the building blocks of Egypt

as trees to your fires;

burning it until it's gone

It's all wrong

deaf to the song, to the core, to the bone

to the soul

the earth is is no victim

no resource

the people, no slaves

the shouts of the few

are lost to themselves

they know only ego

cowards and fools

standing on hills, in their hell

roping in henchmen

with doomsday stories:

the sky will fall

and with it the hope in your hearts

and they'll wrap ropes

round your necks and your wrists

send you to their work

put you in their line

on their farms in their games

til we're all numbered

and forget our colors

and our homes

and our names

and our songs: how to love

how to be, how to live

to be free on this earth

free to choose

to forgive

and to fight

for self worth