2020 new poem
Broken Heart Land
Men and women drink morning coffee
from chipped or stained favorite cups
then gather as common nouns:
police and protesters, with only brutal
and peaceful or right wing adjectives
in defense of supremacy as usual.
Exhausted. Police hose public walking prayers
for change their moral vacancy flowing
into sewers. In every town and city they fail
to wash bias the color of testosterone
from their batons. Even female officers
grow hair on their chests
to cover badges in riot mode. Police/
protesters struggle for grace under fires
tear gas ignites. Lady Justice,
this is no time to be blind to white law
and firing squad order. Sons, daughters, and grand-
children fill peppered streets. Veterans of the Sixties
donate what breath remains of them.
Black, Indigenous, People of Color leave home
risking the lives they have to lose, hope
slightly stronger than waiting
for the dominating shoe to fall.
White supporters pay attention to the danger
you are to yourself and others.
© copyright Dodici Azpadu 2020
Men and women drink morning coffee
from chipped or stained favorite cups
then gather as common nouns:
police and protesters, with only brutal
and peaceful or right wing adjectives
in defense of supremacy as usual.
Exhausted. Police hose public walking prayers
for change their moral vacancy flowing
into sewers. In every town and city they fail
to wash bias the color of testosterone
from their batons. Even female officers
grow hair on their chests
to cover badges in riot mode. Police/
protesters struggle for grace under fires
tear gas ignites. Lady Justice,
this is no time to be blind to white law
and firing squad order. Sons, daughters, and grand-
children fill peppered streets. Veterans of the Sixties
donate what breath remains of them.
Black, Indigenous, People of Color leave home
risking the lives they have to lose, hope
slightly stronger than waiting
for the dominating shoe to fall.
White supporters pay attention to the danger
you are to yourself and others.
© copyright Dodici Azpadu 2020
