Shadows of Change
By Krista Rundiks

An isolated, precipitous gorge,
Two sides sculpted, shadowed, divided.
Erosion of oppressive, systemic cycles,
A drought of activist hearts ignited.
Entangled, entrenched ideologies,
Values discarded, redesigned, no apologies.
Distorted reflections from poisoned waters,
Disillusioning our sons and daughters.
Profit over prosperity…
Comfort over equality…
Greed over justice…
Unimaginable to “Just Trust Us.”
Abysmal, agonizing truths,
Buried deep beneath the Earth.
Intermittent flash floods of realization,
Too sparse for radical transformation.
Damage severe to the disadvantaged,
Tumbled, countless rocks, stranded.
Resting silent on the desert plain,
Each one yearning to explain.
A windstorm moves the haze,
A monochromatic daze, a blinded gaze.
Great abundance overshadowed by great disparity,
Centuries eroding humanity and empathetic clarity.
It can start with one…
One will to defy definition,
One mind to deconstruct and replace,
One soul to be brave, bold, and fierce,
And one voice to speak with grace.