I chase shadows over jagged cliffs
where longing blooms like fire against stone
The closer I reach, the further they slip
a dance of want and evade
as if desire itself is a sly teacher
teaching me the rhythm of patience.
And when the horizon bends toward my hands
fear rises like a tide I cannot hold back
can I cradle what I sought so fiercely?
Will it bend me into something unrecognizable,
a reflection of struggle lost
the fight that shaped the edge of me
now flattened into quiet possession?
I wonder if there is no more battle,
no friction to forge my heat,
will the flame inside me dim
or will it burn anyway
wild, unclaimed
still distinctly mine?
The climb is not just up the mountain
it is through myself
through desire, fear, and the ever-shifting mirror
of who I was and who I am becoming.
About the Creator
Why Black History Matters in America?
The United States of America is celebrating their 250th anniversary in 2026. I'm proud to be an American and as someone who was born here, I wouldn't imagine myself living anywhere else. This is a country where opportunities are possible. Where anyone can be successful in anything they desire to do. Equality, community, and togetherness are the backbones of what America is and should be about. However, we have an administration who wants to erase and disregard those who have made positive, meaningful impacts in our country, specifically Black figures, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Maya Angelou. President Trump and his administration have been constantly complaining and fighting against what they call the "Woke agenda". They use this excuse as a distraction from other issues they refuse to address, such as the high cost of living, climate change, and inflation. That equality is dividing America, when in reality, it's bringing us together. Being woke is not tied to a specific political party. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, you can still care about other people and their plights. Compassion and empathy for others isn't tied to a political party, either. We were taught as children to treat others the way we want to be treated and not judge others because they're different from us. Caring about others isn't a personal attack on your beliefs. It doesn't make you any less of a person. People who are easily offended over African American figures, past or present, or anything related to it, are grasping at straws. Current and future generations need to know who people like Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm were, especially in the classroom. Black History is part of American History. It should be recognized, not hidden or forgotten. Besides, you can't shield children from everything, just because your feelings are easily hurt.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 7 days ago in The Swamp
Comments (6)