by Alazanto, Kevin Davis, our son
below the hasty gridlock of contradictions
and among minced words on tall podiums,
a man preaches about compassion,
his eyes limpid.
an annishinabe woman once told me about relationships:
her people, skidding across moments, carried by wisdom,
the blood of her people seeping through these moments,
droplets ingrained with the soil.
but does the soil judge us as a merciless god?
my eyes follow a parched river basin.
the sun retreats to greet those who have been forgotten.
resting on the horizon, the flow of the river can still be felt.
bloods join, racing through the veins of sleepy sandstone cliffs.
their faces emerge in the crisp warmth of sunset, eyes limpid.
compassion and inequality, conflated, are left to fend on barren streets.
the woman taught me that no matter our origins,
drops of our blood seek out clemency.
rivers flow.
soils take root.
the earth does not judge,
but among our minced words progress paves over the basins,
and our blood is sealed away.
fourwindowspress 
I didn’t know that Kevin also wrote poetry. This is a wonderful poem with a powerful message – I am in awe!!
This will take some heavy thinking–you know, it’s scary, the amount of talent in one family. Blessings to you all.
This is so beautiful.. so well crafted and filled with truth about the fallacy of our way of dealing with truth:
“but among our minced words progress paves over the basins,
and our blood is sealed away.”
The annishinabe woman has it right.
Your son is such a great soul!
The blood in the earth does shout out for mercy and compassion. That is all I could think of as I read this, for me, heartrending poem on human nature and human failings. Excellent job, Kevin!
A poem which left me thinking deeply.
Very, very powerful
David
Let’s slow down and be compassionate to one another. Excellent poem, excellent message here.
“compassion and inequality, conflated, are left to fend on barren streets. the woman taught me that no matter our origins, drops of our blood seek out clemency.” Wow. Such a brilliantly penned work, written with awesome and thought-provoking excellence. The words of this poem brought tears to my eyes – Kevin’s works always speak with truth, honesty and clarity. Loved this. ~ Julie
“Progress”…what a critique this piece offers. A critique of our supposed “progress” and the prices we pay for it.
A wonderful piece. well, composed, dense with imagery and meaning. Thr poem has the ability to both make one feel and think as well.
More than “Liked”.