POEM: NO SAINTS ALLOWED

Claudette Colvin.

Claudette Colvin.

If you feel a pulse

Hold your cards close to your chest

Don’t lose those found souls

Names under arrest.

Recall the sons and daughters 

Warm smiles, big hearts

Sent to the slaughter

It’s torn families apart

Change is the constant

Should be a given

You need signs to be ardent?

How’ve you been living?

News cycle bias

Reparations can’t repair

Color’s no virus.

Damages aren’t fair

I’ll never know what Hell wrath

Can’t say I relate.

Can’t speak on behalf

I’m spic but I’ll speculate

Hate to admit so.

Ignorant and proud

Don’t know Jim Crow from Lizzo

My support’s still loud

Apropos of smarts

Not enough to watch Spike Lee

Mind with open hearts

Promote harmony

MLK before Jr.

Acta non verba

Broaden your future

Like Claudette before Rosa

“Sin miedo” nation

Don’t hashtag fodder

Nope to appropriation

Carver nut butter

So Let Me Ask You,

What’s the matter with black lives?

They’ve been human too