a mother

a poet

a woman who was

murdered by a man

her death has lit a fire

there will be a reckoning

at work i spoke with

a military veteran

the only person today who

acknowledged Renee Good

he was extremely disturbed

angry at the government

i said

it feels like we are

headed for a civil war

he did not disagree

we do not want to

raise our children

in a war

it is time to do more

writing a poem makes sense

to honor a murdered poet

and think about

what comes next

here we are January 2026

fascism on the rise

politicians pretending to be

Christians

not walking in the footsteps of

Jesus

he said “love thy neighbor”

love your family

love your friends

love your community

love your enemies

i’m not a Christian but

i get it

my feet are moving mindfully

one step

followed by

one step

fire burning

all around

not alternate reality

this is actual reality

opening the front door wondering

will the next unmarked car

full of masked men with guns

roll down my street

i am loaded

with love