The Phoenix

I've been having trouble finding the words to respond to everything that's been happening in our country and the world. This poem is what finally came out. Every day it feels like we're adding another layer of dirt on all of our values. I go from anger to fear to sadness and back but I do my best to try to always end up back at hope. 

The Phoenix

Did the phoenix rising from the ashes really need to burn?

Did we really need this mess to show what we still have to learn?

That our state is more divided than our states are united

That our past wrongs and our present both have yet to be righted

That the cracks that we’re now seeing started in the foundation

That it’s those who work to fill them who will strengthen our nation

Let our hearts be sewn together so that we may all believe

When they come for any one of us it’s all of us who bleed

They want us to build a wall but we were told, “Love thy neighbor”

Even if she has a different skin I don’t have to hate her

If your happiness is found in someone else’s misery

Then that’s when a a tear slips down the face of Lady Liberty

When it feels like all this madness will just tear you clean apart

Try to listen for the beat that comes from our collective heart

As this storm continues blowing we’re the ones who build shelter

We don’t have to look around because we’ll each be the helper

We will find our country’s greatness and make strength out of weakness

Know that ashes are just ashes and that we are the phoenix