What World is This

So easy and so hard

to be happy

So hard and so easy

to be sad

I haven’t written a poem in two days.

I’ve started two and finished none

One about colors, and one

asking if it’s okay

to be unapologetically happy

even when

world tragedy surrounds me

But now, today I’m sad

because my own heart

can only hold so much grief

even when

I’m one of the lucky ones

who has art and love to transform it

Happy amidst tragedy

Sad amidst love

What world am I living in

That everything is so ridiculously foggy

That a politician who approves

torture and endorses discrimination

wins an election in a so-called liberal state

What world am I living in

when what’s so clear in my heart

so heavy in my gut

is blurry and I can’t see through the fear

of everyone hurting and hurting everywhere

What world is this that says not everybody can love?

What world is this that says not everybody can love

fully? What world is this that says not everybody can love

with equal protections privileges access respect

and denies people their basic human rights to loving?

What world is this

that I’m living in

What world is this that says not everybody can heal?

What world is this that says not everybody can heal

fully? What world is this that says not everybody can heal

with equal protections privileges access respect

and denies people their basic human rights to healing?

What world is this?

What world is this

that I’m living in

That profits off tragedy

and patrols desperation

That trumpets stupidity

and controls full expression

Not my world

Not my world

I’m trying to create my own

where fear can disappear

and love can flourish

I’m trying to create a space

where I can participate

in global justice and personal freedom

and not have to separate

in order to feel safe.

--Diana Tigerlily