Suspend your disbelief
your hot words
your tears of anger.
I get them
I can hold space for the time you need
to process,
to grieve.
Even though you scoffed at us 4 years before.
Suspend your disbelief
that we would not allow
hate
facism
xenephobia
discrimination
— all children of fear —
to terrorize us
our families
our homes
our communities
for 8 whole years.
The irony is—
it’s never been about “us” against “you’s“
“left” against “right“
your bible versus
your ways of life
it’s about my right to feel safe
our right to build supportive communities
a right to foster love and care
wanting to support others
actions rooted in compassion
Can all agree on love?
Can we all agree on community?
My community
isn’t more important than
your community
isn’t more important than
his/her/their community
we’re all pulling from the same resources
as we all live on one Earth
for better or worse
as some are richer, others poorer
as some a more sick and others have more access to health
this is one community
and experiment entitled: “The United States”
comprised of individuals who are unique
spirited
who disagree
who come together in times of strife
who break apart in times of plenty
one big dysfunctional,
codependent,
somewhat abusive
occasionally well intentioned
family
on a national scale.
So I can hold space for you
as you grieve
I know what it is
to see a world that seems to grow darker
as black and blue pens decide
the fate of a nation
as red and blue pixels mark
the divisions of a country.
I know the pang of dread
as a way of life
counter to your own
seems to gain ground
and pulverize
disenfranchise
destabilize
the walls you have erected to keep yourself and loved ones safe.
I get it.
I lived it.
Just 4 years ago.
I can empathize
and hold space for
your fear made up in anger
but also do us both the honor
of respecting the electoral process and
suspend your disbelief.
Caia Rose 