For Whom is the Glass Broken?
By Dr. Zain Ali Shamoon
Riddle yourself with the following questions:
– Who put the glass ceiling there in the first place?
– And who can afford that?
– And who were the laborers forced to install that?
– And what of the important personal roots that aren’t up there?
But instead down here (where the people gather),
And in here instead (pointing to what is behind one’s ribcage)
Where all the seeds of our mothers’ love go
To grow beyond what you can know –
But, they say that “to progress!”
If you work hard
And your people give up their celebrations
One day you…
And your people too…
Can achieve what they have –
To aspire to “all the things”
Besides humanity that remains in lack
And when the glass breaks,
They need to remind us that –
It shatters on the people at the ground floor
And exhausting myself to sit with pharaohs
Is something I want less, not more
So set, set – intentions for less appeasement of the mass
Here, here – to less bereavement that you didn’t reach their classless class
Hey, hey – to the keepers of bonds always deeper than that
And let’s observe the people who remind us who we are, right back
Said simply,
What could be more important than the way we treat people?
And the way people treat people?
And there is no glass for that
Author’s Bio
Dr. Zain Shamoon is a graduate professor in couple and family therapy. He is dedicated to the creation of spaces where people can tell their personal stories en route to their own wellness. He currently practices therapy online at Northwest Relationships in Tacoma, and is also the host and founder of the Narratives of Pain storytelling showcase.
He received his Ph.D. in human development and family studies, as well as his Master’s degree in Couple and Family Therapy from Michigan State University. His research focused on domestic violence in South Asian communities and how survivors’ personal stories help address service needs.
In his twenties, Zain used be a competitive slam poet and performance artist.
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