Kimberly Farinas’ poem

 The thick smoke invades the air,

hugging us,

leaving a burn in our nostrils, and drying out our eyes.

Our voices collect into something so unrecognizable,

the sound so muffled yet so full of intent, wanting to be heard.

Beyond the glare of our eyes

we dissociate,

we're all here

going through this unnecessary hardship

together.

The mishandling of our well-being brought us here.

Their unjust actions gifted us unity,

but how much is going to be taken from us as a result?