This Is The Day

This is the day when hope picks itself up to face fear again.

This is the day when the planet breathes a little easier than it has done in the past 4 years, knowing its future is not certain but that its plight is being recognised again.

This is the day when decency and compassion are seen as essential leadership traits, and not a sign of weakness.

This is the day when we acknowledge that without the existence of objective truth, we are lost.

This is the day when girls of colour around the world will see two proud young black women — one a poet laureate, the other a future president — in the Capitol, and think ‘that could be me.’

This is the day when time is called on a viscious, merciless, virus.

This should be the day when people are not excluded from moving because of the colour of their skin or their religion.

This could be the day when the hand of bipartisanship is extended — in the halls of power, to the bars on Main St.

This should be the day when democracies all over the world ensure that those left behind are encouraged to speak, so that they are not forced to shout.

This should be the day when those who call for social justice are reminded that words are not enough, when this day passes.

This must be the day when we step back from the brink, wonder ‘what were we thinking?’, and vow never to go back there again.

This is the day.