As We Marched by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
I imagined every step a step toward integrity,
toward justice. Toward language that respects
diversity. Every step a step toward equality. Truth.
I imagined every step one step closer to peace
in our country, toward peace in the world.
I am old enough to not believe in arrivals,
I am fool enough to believe in love.
I am human enough to believe in community.
I am scientist enough to know we need each other.
Perhaps some part of me wondered what good it did
for a few hundred people in a remote mountain town
to walk together a few blocks, chanting, then walk
back to the courthouse again, but tonight, in my body,
I feel it, the trust in humanity that rises when I think
of how we gathered and drummed and believed
in what our country can be. My heart beats
a new rhythm in time with belonging.
“This is what democracy looks like.”
Tonight, after we’ve all gone home,
I know we’re all still marching.
Whether we physically marched on Saturday – or marched in spirit – the truth we share with the world makes a difference. We march when we speak the truth. We march when we help someone in need who is marginalized by this administration. We march when we read just enough news to know what’s going and – but not too much that it leads us to despair.
And every voice raised is a step toward integrity – toward justice – toward peace in our country and peace in our world.
When we gather and drum and believe in what our country can be again, we are creating a new rhythm built on Diversity – Integrity – and Inclusion. These concepts are, and will ever be, the basis for a dream called Democracy. So, we tell the truth. We remember balance. We remain strong. We cultivate wisdom and share it freely. We reach out our hand to help someone in need – and both feel better for the sharing.
Love – not hate. Makes America great. It’s a tall order when masked men are invading our cities and prices continue to rise, creating instability and vulnerability. When war is waged and innocent people die. But as Maya Angelou reminds us – together we rise.
“…You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise…”
“…Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise…”
So today, let’s remember balance. Let’s rise up out of our foundation and speak our truth in body, mind, and heart. Let’s place our hands in the peace sign – the hand gesture yogis call Prana Mudra. This mudra balances the energy body or Prana. Feel the balance and stability of an even breath. Breathing in and out with balance and intention.
Let’s breathe in integrity and justice. Breathe out hate and judgment. Let’s speak and respect diversity and equality and imagine peace as we step toward it and raise our voices in unity.
I imagine every BREATH a step toward integrity,
toward justice. Toward language that respects
diversity. Every BREATH a step toward equality. Truth.
I imagined every BREATH one step closer to peace
in our country, toward peace in the world.
Breathing in – this is what democracy looks like. Breathing out – making it so.