The flash before a thunderous clap
Lightning blazes through our night’s sky
Igniting a warning,
Take heed,
Your melting pot is melting down

How would I explain this to my ancestors?
Who crossed an ocean to get here
With little more than hope
For safe haven and a family reunion that would never come

Ancestors, am I a good descendant?
Quiet rebellion is meager
So I speak loudly
Denouncing what I see
Still, it is not enough

Tell me, how do I become a good ancestor?
I spend my time here
A free thinker
A loose-lipped objector
A kindness giver
Phased and unphased
By a crumbling world

The home my ancestors built
I carry it within me
A guiding light nestled between ribs
Sheltered from the storm

Ancestors, how do we face this?
How do we survive?

Together, they whisper
The answer comes from within

Rachel Mollie is a poet, writer, artist, and scholar-activist, with degrees in sociology, environmental science, and journalism. Her writing is informed by years of experience focusing on social and environmental issues as well as her work in victims’ rights advocacy. Rachel Mollie writes with the intention to provoke thought that catalyzes action—action that leads us toward a more just and peaceful world. From loss and trauma to recovery and empowerment, her poetry and prose illuminate journeys of resilience and lessons in the transmutation of pain into action that helps heal the world. Work that begins with healing ourselves. Learn more at rachelmollie.com.