Rise Up

Within the enlightenment
And rise of reason
As we do unto others
In the testing grounds
Of morality
Shaping the world
Against shifting liberties
In universal love
And the critique of judgement
Between our passions
And better selves
Twisting from
The strangling vines
Of our failures
And dragging us
Toward beauty
Once we have arisen

John is a social worker working in the field of disability management and holds degrees in social work, rehabilitation services, and psychology. He is the author of six books of poetry: “March” (2019), “The Seasons of Us” (2019), New Days (2020), Fragments (2021), A Long Walk (2023) and Sojourns (2024) . His work has appeared widely in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies internationally. John is also a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee. He lives in Caledon Ontario, Canada with his wife and two children. Read other articles by John.