if you are afraid of fire

we wanted to take our voices

to the forgotten cracks and corners

of human society

hold the faces of the poor in our palms

look at them in the eyes with love

walk with them to help them change

we wanted to carry their children on our backs

and hold the little hands of the orphans

as we trekked the muddy trails

that had always been their homes

we wanted to go

where no one could stop us

we wanted to break open the horizon

and let hope shine through

we wanted to cause a big storm

rock every boat, make big waves

we wanted to slap some people on the face

and stand with our stakes firmly in the ground

if you are afraid of fire, don’t stand next to us,

for fire is our lives!

you can’t blaze a trail without it.