i sit in silence
fear
cowardice
protests pass by
and i hide
but please know
you are welcome to hide with me
they will not find you here,
they will not take you from here
let our terror be a beacon
for those out fighting
those with far more to lose and far less to gain
they march and they scream
they organize
the blood of murdered neighbors
smeared across the hands
of a masked emasculate militia
forming a trail
through the future
their footsteps follow
they know every single name
every single face
every single story
and they cry out for justice
they cry out for justice
an end to the madness
more blood spills, endlessly
and i am afraid
though i promised myself that
i would never, ever, ever
be this person
protests pass by
and i hide
but please know
you are welcome to hide with me
they will not find you here,
they will not take you from here
1.10.26