toward the worst of who we've been

 

change, but not forward

moving forward is sometimes progress,

though too often we move forward chronologically

while at the same time we move backward, even devolve,

in terms of values and constructive change,

ways forward can seem abandoned by the lesser within us,

too often we only learn from the past 

how to repeat our mistakes,

instead of looking at dreams deferred, or smashed,

we can forget the other

and huddle only with those

who we feel to be our own tribe,

woe be unto us as a country

when we choose a leader

who leads us back into the worst 

of who we've been.

by Henry H. Walker

April 24, ‘25