forget bile, forget chance, forget fear,
forget all the promises you made and thought
you were capable of keeping—
forget clocks on walls that are telling you
there's no time, there's no time—
forget your mother's sense and your father's shame
and all the friends who forget you now—
forget age, forget money, forgo physicality
and take to the streets with your rage
to arm your brothers.
in words we make new memories, new scenes
that can be remembered and held close,
to keep us strong when we are weak.
new memories to replace the old,
new ideas to help us forget
that we are cold and hungry and oh so young,
to help us forget that we are poor
and lack means of power or force.
remember now
all the faces that came before you,
the struggles in delis and grape fields,
remember now that fate is optional
but the future looms
and brings whatever you brought to the table,
be it reason or weapons or tears.
forget the acid that rises in your chest
and forget how blue are bruises:
let action be your mantle
and break the crown into the hands of the people.