Prompt - Our Moment In Time

Breathe in

Breathe in

Take a look

Newborn babies

Mouths agape, eyes closed tight

Held by loving, fixed arms

Floors away, elderly kin

Smiling at masked companions

The last beat a long second away

In the streets, hurt people

Of all sorts, march with purpose

Their determined yell on their cemented tongues

Minutes away, grateful people

Grin with delight, papers

Fluttering, suspended with

Second chances

A man sits

Stiff-legged, anxious

Awaiting his leader’s declaration

Another man

Stands wide-eyed, frozen

The cold metal inches from impact

A child watches

His rooted parents, wondering

When he would get to learn what they had

Another child sits

Head down, eyes closed, asking

If she would ever even get the

Opportunity

A politician stands

At a podium, gesturing calmly

His lies already firm on his lips

A spectator observes

From the crowd, still and set

Wondering whether he means what he says

A greedy businessman drives

His kids to school, immovably satisfied

That his kid will not become like

The lonely kid cramming

Solid paper in his stiff bag

Thinking that all that his future offers is

Pain

There will always be chances

There will always be opportunity

And there will always be pain

But now?

Embrace all the good

Accept all the bad

Know that you are part of it all

Take a moment

Look around you

And breathe out.

~Michael James-McDonald