the river burns
fish die, war is unending
home is a battle field
many walk past, but not you my friend,
not you; you choose to fight
each day, steady, singleminded
on one foot -
you speak fearlessly
to power
you journey for justice
a peace that disallows forgetting
many walk past, but not you my friend,
not you; you choose to fight
each day, steady, singleminded
on one foot -
you pay dearly,
all costs, a limb, pieces of skull,
friends, blood
your daughter’s laughter
that you don’t get to hear
your son’s tears that you cannot dry
your beloved craving your hand
your mother calling your name
we keep drawing
from the well of your strength
behind the bars, still the freest-
many walk past, but not you my friend,
not you; you choose to fight
each day, single minded,
steady,
steadier than those
digging the heels of their two feet
that are destined to falter
