Renewal

Renewal
Even with 2020 vision
it often evades sight
blinded by our hurt and despair

Renewal
is that precious flower that found crack in endless concrete
is that honey produced by our bee relatives from nectar source sour
is that child who "makes it out" in a system designed to keep her locked up, trapped in

Renewal
hit me like a torrential monsoon rain
Creator's Tears
washing away 
my fears 
that downtown ABQ would stay in its
plywood plight
a reminder of an already struggling not-so-iconic Rte 66
mix 
of 
brothers and sisters discarded
businesses pandemiced
and cries for justice 

That was b4 the paint brushes, the Krylon
that smoothed over
plywood plight
doubt
fear
shame
wounds worn heavy like jeans in the rain

Paint for Peace, they call it
renewal through hope's tints, colors, hues,
brushing
dignity
pride
love
unity
back onto the canvas

Author's note: There was plywood to cover the broken windows in downtown ABQ, an eyesore for an already struggling downtown. Well, a group of artists calling the project "Paint for Peace" decided to use that same plywood to beautify downtown with messages of hope, inspiration, love, unity. The pics shown here are part of this project. Go down and see it for yourself! The Alibi did an article on Paint for Peace - click here.