Together, We are Massive

Together, We are Massive

The news worsens
I am confounded
My confidence gone
Who am I
As a member
Of this country
Previously proud to be so
Now embarrassed
Saddened
Grieved by the egregious
Actions
And threats
Of our preposterous president.

I know not what to do
I lie awake.  Awake.
Hour after hour
Sick with worry
Hopeless as I am helpless
To fix, to mitigate even
Disaster after disaster.

From deep in the private
Recesses
Of my hurting heart
Comes a silken shroud
I allow myself 
To be wrapped within
The soft and warm
I release briefly
My stale breath
Letting the acid
Ascending from my gut
Trickle back down
my vise grip opens
and the scraping of teeth
  whispers into silence.

It is from within
This protected den
I hear
The gentle voice 
Of love and 
Reason

Much to my chagrin
And relief
I am reminded
I am not all-powerful
Nor all-knowing
But I am enough
To answer
That which is my call
Which is within
My reach

I can hold onto truth
As I experience it
I can share love
I can feel joy
For in this time of
Great suffering
In this time of
Conflict-violence-evil
We can only but do 
each 
Our own part
Participate in healing
That which lay
Within our reach 

The writers must write
The painters must paint
The protectors must protect
Lovers must love
And the faithful
And the doubters
Must pray
And so on.

We all must watch
And listen
Create a sabbath 
In our hearts 
Each day
And then
When we hear
in the silence of our hearts
 the calling or our names
Our jobs will become clear
And we must go forth
With courage
To do each our part
No matter how small
For together
We are massive
Together
 We will survive 

Patricia O’Connor
January 2026