they believe

they believe.

truly they believe that
if they

make a sign
and go downtown

and march, and yell
and scream.

if they throw rocks
at the police

smash cars and break windows
set fires
to the stores

pull down the statues of
once heroes,

that things will change.

they believe that the world
will right

it self, that the color of
your skin

will not matter, that sin
will end,

that men will at last see
the error of their ways

and make amends.
they believe this with all their
hearts.

well meaning, and naïve.

but soon they tire,
there is work to do. lives
to lead.

they grow old
and grey. their bones turn white,
as the ashes
rise

from their graves.