So many people have asked me
what's ferguson like?

How can I put a community into a box?
what kind of description can contain it all?

the mechanics who not only fix my car and the farmers' market van
but bring their own equipment out to the farm and fix our tractors
and help the farm's neighbors take their fence down
yet have their windows boarded up in fear of protests

and our other neighbor who is furious
because all the water drains off into her backyard
She accuses me of running the irrigation on purpose to flood her

And the black farmer who teaches classes to our apprentices
who fears being pulled over because she's running late
and is driving 40mph in a 35mph area
whereas I get pulled over for not having my stickers up to date
and drive off with a warning
I can see my white privilege here; it is not hidden.

How can any 30 second clip of the protests show
the dozen volunteers who start setting up for the market
at 6:30am every Saturday morning
putting up tents, pulling out picnic tables, even helping to carry produce
so that farmers just pull right through the tent set up for them

And the Fourth of July parade
a rainbow of faces
all cheering for a mix of watermelons and perhaps
also for the hope of a country founded on justice for all