.hope embodied.

there were people there of/with
titles/stature/prominence
black/brown/white/beautiful skin color(s)
lower/middle/upper class status(es)
broken/uplifted spirits
people who have come a long way
and people who have not

in most places/spaces/times
people who preach
"the children are our future"
crumble beneath their words
of discrimination towards young people
creating victims of the trauma
of ageism

but today

the most honest parts of the service,
the times that brought people to their knees
were that of the Youth
and the recognition
(by applause and hollering)
of them by the "adults"
(whatever that means)

it always seems to be that
those who are not given
enough (if any) time/love/space,
in any corner of the world,
shine the most.

speaking words beyond his years
preaching truth and hope and light
into the ears of those who know
struggle and pain,

though only heard in a 5 minute speech,
his passion and dedication is beyond compare.

his hope to be a role model
his hope to be the president
his hope for his friends to be better citizens
was/is all a part of his plan for our world

our collective world
in which we/you/i
live/breathe/have being
together,
young and old.

he spoke of King,
of experience had
and experience(s) to come
he spoke of the dreams of his
ancestors
that became reality/ies.

he spoke of faith, as expressed by King.
"faith is taking the first step
even when you don't see the whole
staircase,"
he reminded us
seemingly faithful people

but the faith he preached
wasn't something of the Unseen
but that of/in the Youth.
don't give up on the young people,
he said.
have faith that they too may
change the world.

guide them
love them
hold them
he/i said/say.

for they hold power beyond compare.
for they have wisdom of many years
for they have voices

for they (truly) are our future.