Relentless [poem]

I stood on the edge of the ocean
on the crumbling wet sand underfoot
looking out at the waves
rushing and screaming and crashing
Unrelenting
and at the people
battling the violent waters
to get to firm land

I sat at home and watched
the sea of white faces on TV
marching in the dark with
fire in their hands
and passion in their eyes
screaming hate and violence
Unrelenting
battling their own demons
for a monochromatic peace

I listened for the sounds of
Spring, for the soft pit-pat
of raindrops on green
for the whisper of lovers
and the songs of the wild and free
for the change that was promised

But all I hear is crashing and
burning
the ominous crack of icebergs
holding the world together
the mournful wail of helpless
creatures
and the leader of the free world
spouting nonsense and intolerance
Unrelenting

We sit in our conference halls
debating the truth of it all
but what have we learned?

Only that
racism is like climate change —
you don’t have to believe in it
for it to kill us.