By Margie Mia x Johnson, Poet Laureate of Newark, NJ

I love the way you care — sharp, alive, a whole chorus rising up against the dark.

The way you care, steady as breath, faithful as morning/ joy comes / we know a lot about night. 

Care — fierce, un-tired, un-quiet, unafraid / rocking to a rhythm.

A rhythm that says: not on our watch, not this time, not ever…

I love the way you care, the way your hands stay open, your hearts stay lit, your courage stays loud.

Your prayers / don’t quit / I love your faith / how you. 

Press and push and live on a promise that says this/  is necessary / work/ our work / our life / care. 

Care / it’s urgent / care. 

Life is sacred. 

Care / even when weary. 

Care / share and puuush.

Insist on this dream that’s not impossible. 

This dream full of dignity. 

Care / for the hairs on every mother’s head/care / for 

Every father’s bread/care/ for 

Every child’s warm bed/ 

Care ..and don’t quit. 

Love won’t let us. 

Give up on us. 

We / offer what we have. 

Repair what’s torn. 

Stand together in solidarity. 

Knowing wrong is wrong.

Right is right. 

And respect is respect. 

Not at some other time.

But now. 

Care.

Now. 

Use courage to care. 

Share / the tenderness of this. 

Holy work /  our collective fingers on the pulse.

Of the promise.

While we mobilize and resist.

Organize .

Reimagine while we still remember. 

Ourselves, our families, our people.

Allllllll people and our planet/ 

So we stand together between the challenge and the possibility. 

Knowing togetherness is a force.

Resistance is a daily choice. 

Our refuge is in the Lord. 

And we can’t afford to not care.

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