I. Hold the tension, don’t just talk about it.
Don’t run from it; walk the line.
We can’t be so consumed
by whatever may or may not happen,
by the order of action steps that should happen first.

Yes, society needs to enact change.
Yes, there are constructs that constrict equitable access.
Yes, there are people who will fight
tooth and nail to not fight against injustice.
Yes, there are historical wrongs that must be acknowledged
in the journey to reconciliation.
Yes, there are some (or many) grievances committed
without a shred of remorse.

You cannot right all of those wrongs in one lifetime.
Pick something and do it
with love, respect, grace and truth.

II. Time is not linear. The interwoven nature
of generations of people overlapping their lives
into what we try to frame a society is far more
like a tapestry than it is like a single thread
of your embroidered convictions.

We have woken up, but aren’t truly awake.
We live in that ephemeral state between
consciousness and conscientiousness.
It’s not enough to know right from wrong.
It is also not enough to find our voice, our call,
and just be loud all the time.
Everything must work together for good.

Most of our days are spent in shadow.
Humanity cannot survive the terrifying splendor
of pure light, nor the awesome depth of total darkness.
We live in a liminal space between the two.
Embrace it.

We are meant to hold that space. For ourselves.
For each other. Our purpose is not
to win, but to ensure that everyone
can thrive.

III. Hold the tension. Firm & strong.
Hold the tension. Though the days are long.
Hold the tension. It’s worth the fight.
Hold the tension. We’ll shine so bright.

Originally published in Objects Things Stuff—Messy Bits We Carry Around (Dark Thirty Poetry Publishing, 2025).

SDG