January 29th

"saying to the prisoners, 'Come out,'
to those who are in darkness, 

'Show yourselves."
They shall feed along the ways,
on all the bare heights
shall be their pasture;" Isaiah 49:9

when the oligarchs

would slam the doors

of fear on us, 

you pick the locks

so we may walk unafraid.

when the chapels of our souls

are shadowed by worries,

you keep lighting as many

candles as we need.
when the powerful would

starve us of love and justice,

you gather us in fields

rippling with hope, handing

out plates piled high 

with grace.

(c) 2025 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman