Divided Ground

Divided Ground (6th July, 2010)

United we sit, to observers visually sound;
Divided we will fall on this unsteady ground.
You’re rising up, loud and proud, to make a stand,
All other voices muted; we raise our hands,
Speak fast as light splits, refracted by the glass:
These are the things we air outside of class.
Echoes of the past infiltrate; I hesitate to speak;
As the embarrassment creeps, he peace-makes.

Can I watch the time tick by and keep quiet?
There’s no room to hide, I can’t put out this fire.
And the room starts to dissolve around us all:
Quicksand words slip; like liquid gold, the tears fall
From bruised, tired eyes. You’re unrehearsed,
Widening this divide; you’re making it worse.
Where once lay a gap, a chasm has emerged
And I can only express my regret with these words.