The need to belong

We, like a well-slept bear, are awakening

Hungry for fairness
Thirsty to rejoin the rest of the world

We shake off the layers of angry, fearful sleep
And see the sun again for the first time in years

And we see our place in it

We rise, stretching our long, hungry arms to the heavens
Unsure if we have awakened in time

For decades we have been friend and ally to so many
Now we awaken to find ourselves hated and feared
Many of us are uncomfortable in our role as bully

Going back to the cave is not an option
We have seen the darkness of our sleep

We are awakening
Let us hope the rest has done us good