This poem is inspired by events in Minnesota, especially by this Heartfelt Note from Teri Leigh . More about the context below.
I Change My Gaze
I change my gaze. Not up. Not outward. Down the block. Across the street. Into nameless places where credit is not expected. Into a heated room where space becomes safety because someone decided cold wasn’t acceptable tonight. Into the cleanup before sunrise. Into stores forgetting what they sell and remembering who they serve. I change my gaze and see systems fail, and networks appear. But still, community is here, care shows up dirty and tired. I see adults standing watch in the worst weather, with no audience, no slogan, no reward— just eyes on the moment until it’s safe enough to go home and sleep. This is where hope lives. Hope is here— in stamina, in repetition, in the decision to do one small thing again tomorrow, even when it doesn’t seem to solve a damn thing. This hope is dense. Hope is care moving at human speed. Hope is people refusing to let absence be the final answer. I don’t know how this ends, I only know how it continues. One door. One shift. One person staying, saying: I’ve got this. - Feel free to share and use as you like. Created by Samia Oldman. Link to the downloadable audio: I Change My Gaze
About & Context
This poem was inspired by a heartfelt Note from Teri Leigh (26 Jan, 2026) about life in Minnesota. It touched me so deeply that I ended up writing a small eight-piece collection about everyday people, kindness, and the quiet importance of community in a moment shaped by fear and uncertainty.
These poems, soundscapes, and visuals are unrelated to my main project. These pieces exist purely as support — no commercial intent, no conditions attached. You’re welcome to copy, share, and pass them forward in any way that feels useful. You can credit me if you like, but it’s not required. The focus here is connection, not ownership.
As a mother of two watching from afar, the situation in Minnesota hits close. This is everyone’s concern, not just those living through it. I’ll publish the poems individually and also as a complete set.
Poetry is written by me. The soundscape and visuals were created with AI.
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