Better Days

I call for consensus

And find the diametrically opposed.

We are both UV light

And infrared.

In chemistry, you find

The number of individual moles

Through multiplication of concentration

And volume.

I look at the electoral map

And try to piece out

The concentration of voters

By the volume of a state

So I can find the individuals to blame.

I find I'm always missing

One part of the equation.

I hold my friends as they ask

Why does the world smell like smoke?

I pose this question in their place.

I hear you can’t fight fire with fire.

which sounds a lot like don’t ask questions, resistance is futile.

I am answered by

White men,

Straight couples,

Cisgender communities,

Conservative elders,

Christian women.

I am not convinced, so

I pose the question again.

I hear the world started burning long ago,

which sounds a lot like there’s no fight left.

I am answered by

Black men,

Non-binary couples,

Queer communities,

Millennial youth,

Muslim women.

So I hold my friends tighter and tell them,

we will douse the fire with water and well wishes

which sounds a lot like I don’t actually see a way out.