With Justice as Our Driver

after the murder of Heather D. Heyer, executed by a motor vehicle in imitation of a Daesh terrorist tactic, on August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, VA

When I go to a rally
    To exercise free speech,
I recognize the tally
    Of those who’ve felt the reach

Of cultivated hatred,
    The animosity
That yearns to turn the state red,
    Dyed by blood flowing free.

My life may be in danger
    Though not uniquely so,
Each comrade not a stranger
    Invested—so we go.

We go attend the rally
    And freely speak our minds,
Though through danger we sally— 
    Which us together binds.

Behold my fallen comrade,
    A loving citizen,
Into the fray unarmored
    She went, and stood, and then— 

The forces of mad hatred
    Infesting in one mind
In one swift action shattered
    That love, through fury blind.

Yet seekers after justice
    Must unto rallies go,
Even as we must trust this:
    That danger lurks. We know.

We are bonded together,
    Or else a life is naught— 
Today farewell to Heather,
    Who “merely” justice sought.

Yet, those who have themselves let
    Inveigle in the heart
Such hatred as but delves yet,
    They cast themselves apart.

We cannot highly honor
    Enough the innocent
Slaughtered, but wish upon her
    Bright soul the firmament.

We living that survive her
    Must dedicate today
Ourselves—with justice driver— 
    To never look away.