Revolt is not Riot
Appropriate reaction to state violence
80% unemployment for black youth
Poverty has its roots
In Slavery
Victims of death by ******
Unnatural
He did it himself they say
He died
His neck snapped
And broke the silence
Disturbed the peace
Inciting violence
Sparked Light
Of resistance
In the hearts and minds
Of the confined
And fear in the hearts of those who don't matter to mind
Modern lynchings
At the hands of police
And they call us thugs?
When we're killed for making eye contact
Or walking home from a store run
By maniacs with or without licensed guns
For having the nerve to shop in Walmart
Or playing with a toy gun
You know,
Cops and robbers?
But what happens when cops are now robbers of lives and justice in our communities
Then all too often they shift the narrative to you and me
Of why unemployed and underemployed thugs are stealing food from the grocery
Occupied like Syria and Iran
For failing to purchase
With dollars they don't have
In a store like CVS that is insured by the flag
How will order ever be restored?

After denying myself for so long
How can you accept me
Staring into my eyes
Seeing pieces of broken glass
Mirroring shattered dreams
Reflecting old lovers past
Yet somehow
You always come back
With a new smile

Living in a world
Where far too many don't make enough to buy food
While the rich have plenty
No more can we plow fields
As hunger builds
They confuse you to think
This is how sacrifice is
It does nothing for me
But bring pain and worry
They said the ultimate sin is not earning a living
Same ones consumed by greed and not giving
Life ain't fair unless you pay the fare
Fear burns in the air
They call it an -ism
But it's Spiritual warfare

Fear ruptures in the pit of my stomach
Waxing and Waning
Tears ebb with only the intent to cool the Flames
At which turn did I become so deranged?

If no one more than you
happens to believe your truths
their lies cannot seep through
the walls built within
to contain
a roaring sea of emotion
at bay
miles away
sky high
from your demise