Tempered

Small tears and wrinkles
On soft white sheets,
Cool winds threaten to break
What should be whole.

An endless assessment,
Shows that not everything is Ok
At least, not yet.

Defeat.
Again.
It's all we've ever known
With hearts that go down
With the latest grade,
Saying not quite,
Not quite,
Not quite yet.

Enoughs and Sufficiencies,
Always, just out of reach,
Revealing the small repairs
There as a reminder,
Of our humanity.

But I saw them marching.
Beauty.
In lifted heads and confidence.
Covered in sheets of white
With wrinkles and tears.

With tears in their eyes,
They looked towards the sun
Broken vessels of glass,
With every corner
Shining right back.

Their hands lifted,
Hearts golden,
Finding freedom
In the cracks.
Soft chants singing,
"Enough is enough,
 This is who we are."

-Noemi E. Garcia Rigsby