"not-so-revolutionary," by Kadin Gaviola

I’ve Heard About the Revolution – February 2025

every day there’s a new thing to learn.

a new lesson that comes from the subtext

of people who think they have power.

power to quell all dissent,

to steal the autonomy of manwomanpersoncountry.

thinly veiled notions of domination,

of unempathetic white noise, 

leaves vulnerable minds numb and complacent.

for those glorious independent thinkers

(which you need to become),

empathy’s how society should be cultured.

someone who’s loved by someone else 

will be affected by decisions you make.

wake up. these words displayed in this way are necessary dissent. 

defiantly against this political climate,

an especially big “f u” to the leader of it

and a shockingly ironic way to frame the crisis we sauntered into.

don’t be put off, please,

this is not the fault or work of one man,

lets be clear. we are bombarded by faux-moral chains.

every presentation of media grabs me and shakes.

they already have my attention, my inability to be a bystander!

my problem lies

in the thought of people knowing, seeing the same thing

yawning and going on with their lives, 

being ok with anything going on,

unbothered and eternally and fixedly ignorant.

nothing is fine. pay attention.

a drop of effort to educate would crumble this cult of personality

it would break down this helm of power

set to destroy the lives of so many.

every move disregards “we the people”

and says “i don’t care.”

if you don’t read this i’ll read it for you.

if you don’t understand let me explain.

i will give patience as lasting as the moon if i must.

this is important, to be active, skeptical, discerning.

look at this world that’s lopsided and broken, really look and see.

a world i was given and told to fix

a world that is losing it’s humanity to people like-

what a big (not just you) world it is

that keeps on turning on the bodies we choose to burn.

 “Conflict is fought over the terrain of women’s bodies.” - Seyla Benhabib

I’ve heard about the Revolution – February 2026

Everything still reigns true,

Now they tell me it’s not that extreme.

That lives being lost now is the same

As the change in weather,

As safe as shooting a man in the street

Because… honestly why? I certainly don’t know.

Accountability is a made up word,

And you hear my voice because I have yet to be silenced.

Who would have thought I would 

Return to this poem a year later 

And more shit’s on fire.

All I can say now is reread the first poem 

And understand that I’m tired,

But I can’t imagine how tired 

People are that weren’t so lucky as me.

That weren’t born with white skin,

Educated parents with the money to put me in school.

You remember “we the people” from the last poem?

I guess it means people that look like me, or the president.

How dare they reduce people to political playing cards

The huddled masses shaking in fear

For their lives, for the American dream turned nightmare.

I’m tired but I’ll never stop trying to get you to

Just look!

“It’s ok to change your mind. Show us your courage, leave this behind.” 

– Political song by Annie Schaefer