Overwhelmed

its too much
its too heavy
its more than I can carry
its 10 lbs. of flour in a 5 lb. sack
its maybe – my cup runneth over -
but not in the way you are thinking

there may be times – there might be days
when joy is the thing that’s overflowing
maybe in some faraway land
when people live together without killing

without killing school children with an AR-15
without killing black men under a policemen’s knee
without raping women – and throwing away the kit
without a President grabbing women in their most private places

without building highways through black neighborhoods
and garbage dumps near their neighborhood schools
since white folks have all the privilege
not-in-my-backyard is only an option
when you have the power

without yet another black mother shrieking in pain
her grief too great for spoken words
without the need for setting fires and broken windows
such things are used as only a last resort

the judge in court never raises his voice
because he’s sitting up high holding the gavel
it is the unfairly accused – brought in on Trumped-Up charges
who screams so some white person will actually listen

if you are uncomfortable
if you are afraid
if you are bothered by all this commotion

be aware of your position
be thoughtful of their petitions
and pay attention
and shut your mouth
and listen

dg

6/14/2020

 

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