Hands 2

I wrote this shortly after the 2024 US election results were announced, but I decided not to post it because it felt too negative and hopeless. Now, it just feels...accurate:

okay.

So this is it.

***

And I am searching for that message of hope,

I am grasping for that silver lining

But I'm not there (yet?)

I'm still in mourning…

Because I know

It's going to get bad,

I know people

Will

Die–

MY people

will die,

Because we always do

Out here on

The fringes where

We've been hanging on by

A thread

Already.

I want to say we'll

Rise above

But I feel so

heavy.

I want to say we

Will survive, but I know

Some of us won't.

I want to say we'll

Get through this,

But tell that to the

Millions

Who didn't

The first time around.

***

Some chose not to use

One of the few tools we still

Have left, well,

Congratulations!

You got what you asked for.

Some still say

Elections don't matter,

Well, congratulations!

Your privilege is showing.

At least I know

How they feel about us;

But what does your

Apathy say?

Your moral high ground,

Your call for revolution?

I hope you're ready to fight

(while they still let you)

I hope you're ready to

Step up, because we

Are (rightfully) afraid to,

And we have a

Target on our

Backs and we

Cannot keep taking the

Risks

You put us through.

We did what we could

And we have to hide

Now, and it's time,

It's your turn,

We're passing the baton.

***

I wish I could say

I'm holding on

To that light,

But I am grasping and

tired

And maybe

I've been through too much

And maybe

I feel too much…

This will not be like the last time:

It will be

so

much

worse,

I promise.

***

I look down at my hands

And they're

empty

So I can hold the

Ones I love

When I need to,

Because

They're all

I

have

left.