every day I think
of mountains and valleys
carved by rivers
diligent and quiet, wearing away
making a silent difference
and every day I think of war
of humanity self-destructing
of man and woman tearing out the mountains and valleys
an abrupt and violent
difference
every day I think about
how children's hopes
are slaughtered as they are
and as their parents fight
and as the last light
flees their eyes,
I think
we are not a species built to last
we are a people that kill
take a chance to live and learn and love
from others
over land or wealth
over a belief in some gods
all I can believe is
if there is a god,
she is crying
every day I think of broken crayons
of schools and hospitals bombed
to make a point
killing the most innocent of all,
children and those that can't
defend themselves
sending man after woman after man after woman to fight
sending person after person to die
you're telling me you're defending my freedom
what fear should I have for it?
why are we fighting those who also think they are defending a freedom?
if we are both defending
who was attacking in the first place?
every day I think of women, of girls my age who would be beaten if they even thought of writing something like this. I think of the privilege I have and it breaks my heart
to think that somewhere,
a young girl is watching
and is afraid
to even be hearing my words.
it kills me,
more than anything,
to know that young girls live in fear
and women are taught to cower
subservience is no respect
in terms of gender
it is the relegation of a strong
and powerful people
to be afraid
because the relegators themselves
think they are worthy
worthy to
enslave
capture
reduce another human
to a number,
to a chore,
to a pointless being.
I disagree.
when one does not respect existence
they should expect resistance
and resistance they shall receive,
for I refuse to sit and nod
I refuse to see my sisters and brothers killed
I refuse to smile and wave
for your death and destruction
I will take any opportunity
to fight,
I will take any opportunity to win
I will take any opportunity to
dismantle the society of ugly
and the society of black and white
I will dismantle the society that tells
a gay man he is a blight
on the face of the earth
I will pound into the ground
the notion that I am not enough
I may not use my fists,
but it does not mean I won't fight.
