last night

we stood on the street corner
with candles and rageful faith
burning as we pulled on the edges
of all that isn’t right.
we are well beyond the worst
our humanness can afford.
but, we can’t lose our grit and hope,
we tell each other and ourselves
as we take the limp helplessness
and give it purpose
in the ways that fit us most.
we can stand together,
we tell each other,
at the edges of our fear,
and, as necessary,
we will heed the call
to leap into the fray
following the light
of hundreds who shone before us.