66. Lullaby – Jon Batiste

Prompt:

Channel your most pure self—the you as a child. Many of us in this country have learned toxic ideology that has both intentionally and unintentionally oppressed others. It is so ingrained that often, we don’t even know how much we hurt our neighbors—and so, a great unlearning must occur. In the spirit of that unlearning, channel your childhood self. Then write a letter to your adult self, asking where you learned these things and why they may linger, even after you know better. Tell your adult self all the things you must unlearn to be a better lover of your neighbor.

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Anonymous

remember 

squeak of the fan

and swish of the wind

stench of the sweat

and sore of the heat 

is there anything summer knows better? 

sweet of the ice cream

sour of the lemonade

sticky of the sugar

sound of the thunder 

things that linger like diamonds on strings

never forget childhood summers 

never forget history lessons

never forget fights for rights

never forget genocides

never forget wars 

things that linger like broken glass on beach

draws your eye and scares you too 

never forget why no one likes that school

never forget why you’re in your neighborhood

never forget why any other is dangerous 

things that linger like grease in hair

if you don’t touch it, you don’t know it’s there 

never forget why the world mourns in terror