HAUNTED ERA
The Unseen Heroes
their echoes linger, etched in time dreams of equality realized standing like giants, their boldness ablaze courage embedded in history’s maze silhouettes of Selma, whispers of Soweto songs are reborn like light through a ghetto banners tattered from battles hard-fought injustice undone, hope blood-bought change does not happen in obedient silence it is only accomplished in feats of defiance in history’s pages, the voices explode their stories of sacrifice must be told M.L. King’s dream, Rosa Park’s seat Malcolm, Gandhi, and Emmeline sensing they’re walking beside us still these unseen heroes with unyielding will and yet the earth shudders as names are erased a quiet conspiracy, stories defaced white-washing archives, denying our past what once was truth is now alternate facts in this haunted era, we must carry their torch so the light doesn’t fade by unscrupulous force these heroes are gone yet their spirits unite reminding us never to give up the fight every step forward encourages another we’ll march for our veterans, our children, our mothers our ancestors, heroes, for all those who died to give us the freedoms we’ve cherished with pride we’ll break down the walls that are built to confine us as tyranny threatens to order our silence we’ll stand in the gap for those who are voiceless and never give fear the power to suppress us
Micki Findlay - Author, Poet, Activist, Elbows Up Van Isle Organizer, B.S. Detector