M. Hank

My whole life I have been trying to tell a story so beautiful that the world would fall in love with me.

That is why I befriended words and stage lights.

That is why I watch the details of the world

Remember the girl?

She’s in second grade,

Maybe

Blond brown curls

Blue green eyes.

She’s sitting on the top metal pole of the fence

Chipped green paint

This year I didn’t lay out an outfit for the fourth,

This year I wore all blue

I didn’t want to represent the other side,

Not today.

This year we didn’t go to the parade 

they're scared. 

that's it. 

they: shout misspelled arguments in all caps send soldiers to peaceful 

protests yell into microphones turned all the way up shut down dissent 

They called him a legend, but legends don't bleed—and I watched Diogo Jota bleed for his game. It wasn't just the goals, trophies or the crowd—It was what he gave when no one was watching.

To me,

The words hope

And light

Are interchangeable;

To me,

Perhaps it is hope

That will let us see clearly