the white race, paunched,
couched in lazy righteousness
steeped in knee-jerk fright of us--
terrified by the sight of
our history of shamefulness
in every passing headline
and obit crossing the line
that makes the deadline,
day by deadly day
due to the arrogance of men
who refuse to even listen
to the obvious injustice
pouring since i don't know when--
our nation's deepest wound
forever reopened to bleed again
and again
and again
and again