I am afraid that
some newly emboldened
official in a uniform
(or not in a uniform)
will decide my papers are not
good enough anymore
I am afraid that
brutishness stalking the land
is calculating who is next
to be disappeared
and we will just
let them go
I am afraid that
the loud books removed
from shelves will be
forgotten by those who
need to remember
especially now
I am afraid that
we are afraid
But hope
holy hope
rises
Wendy McFadden is publisher of Brethren Press and executive director of communications for the Church of the Brethren.