-oliver-

I’d like a palmful of metaphors, 

Ones to use every time 

I put a pen to a page, 

To plant in my heart 

And become submerged in my hope, 

Inspired by Jesmyn Ward

I wish I could tell you how I mourn your innocence,

how I pray for a shield, 

I scroll through the options

Endless rows

And rows

And rows

Of smileys

And animals

And faces

And people

And things.

I scroll through the multicolored hearts

The laughing faces

a lesbian couple on my bus home from school 

a man in a punk battle jacket on the street 

my mother's female CEO group chat blowing up 

four of my teachers taking the following day off 

I feel scared whenever I think about the election.

Because of what is at stake.

Because really it’s everything that’s at stake right now.

Freedom.

Justice.

No one can predict 

Our country's future  

Various people watching and waiting  

Eager and scared for the outcome