“We Are Ready to Know” by Teri Hicks

We Are Ready to Know written “In Synergy” with “I’ve Weathered Storms & Fires Foreseen” by J Michael Walker

Eyes glazed with tears,
heart filled with pain,
I tried to look into the future,
yet only the past filled my gaze.

Though 2020 is behind us
nine minutes and 29 seconds of April 25, 2020 
still weigh heavy on my heart.

While an officer of peace casually kneeled on his neck,
the world watched over and over
as George Floyd took his last breath.

An awakening for masses worldwide,
a deeper state of sleep for those whose hearts’ could not see.

For decades turned to centuries,
scabs formed from crust of hardened blood and serum
that cover the wounds of our ancestors
have been picked at, scratched, scraped and clawed.

With the tragic murder of George Floyd,
wounds of current and past generations have been unearthed 
to lay bare, naked, exposed, unclothed,
for them that have an eye to see.

In the wakefulness of this time
will the wounds, trauma, guilt, shame of past inequities be healed?
Will the lack of guilt, the lack of shame be forgiven?
Will we heal, move forward as a people, as a nation, as a world?

Will the awakened succumb to the call of sweet slumber,
cradle the May 2020 George Floyd uproar like a new baby, 
rock it into a restless sleep
while things remain as they have been for generations past?

Will the re-opened and exposed wounds of our ancestors
once again be covered with crust of hardened blood and serum
to form a new scab
in wait to be picked at, scratched, scraped and clawed by future generations?

Will the awakened have stamina enough to remain awake,
continue to roar loud enough 
to heal the wounds, trauma, guilt and shame cast upon us from inequities of the past?
To heal the un-healable?
To forgive the unforgiveable?
To see the un-seeable?
To love the unlovable? 

Dear God, we are ready to know.

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