Always Keep Fighting
This is every morning that you had to fight
with yourself to get out of bed
because in a world of black and white,
you woke up seeing red.
This is for the fighters
because while the other kids picked up habits,
we picked up lighters
and guided ourselves out of the dark.
This is the burning pile
of broken pieces of our past.
This is the art
created from the ash
of smoked dreams
and singed photographs;
the aftermath of star collisions
and grass
that never looked green
no matter where we would stand.
This is the first time
that you picked up a pen
and the last time you promised yourself
that you would never cry again.
This is their humor
and the way they stared
like you were their favorite punchline.
This is being told you were beautiful
and actually believing it for the first time.
This is fighting their loose tongues
with your clenched fists;
Your skinned knuckles
against their cracked lips.
This is the messages in bottles
written by drunk captains of sunken ships.
This is every lie spoken aloud
after the words “Truth is”.
This is for kids
creating chaos
and the chaos
saving kids.
This is the cigarettes still burning,
glowing in the dark.
This is the scribbled love letters
on the used-napkin hearts
of strangers in sleepy diners.
We are the gold miners.
We are the creators still creating,
dreamers still dreaming,
still writing,
still believing:
Keep fighting the fight.
Rise above.
Everything’s going to be alright.
Keep putting love
in to this world
and others
will follow your light.
© Gina Clingan 2017
From my book, Redford, which can be purchased here
