I cannot celebrate a
country so relentlessly
rich in willful
oblivion concerning the
suffering upon which
it was built
back then

Back then
meaning centuries
decades
yesterday

Back then
meaning
an hour
ago

Today I celebrate instead –

the open hearts of so many
genuine kindness found in passing
radical solidarity with
exiles from domination’s favor

the art of rejoicing at beauty
those who give in to the
weighty gifts of mutuality
good books

days spent in honest work
the courage of witness
in the face of power
friends who think with me

this one ripe peach