Whatever the cause
deforestation
animal abuse
education reform
first I learned about the issue
then what I discovered enraged me
and I burned at how others could know
and not act
I yelled
urgent
but the only ones I moved
were the other shouters
so I turned inward
and it was there instead that I found change
there that I heard something tell me
Before doing anything else
before arguing another point
step into the home that is yourself
stay until you hear your own pain
echoing in the rooms
until you see your fist of a face
lighten in the mirror
until you see your good fortune
hanging on the walls
until you sit down with yourself
and let kindness mediate
then
go out again
Bradley Samore currently lives in North Carolina and is a high school English teacher. His writing has been featured in various publications, including West Texas Literary Review, Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, and SLAB Literary Magazine.
