Streets

I hear blood
families crying over a loved one’s
slain body in the street
The sirens are distant
but close enough to see
the strobing red, intimidating blue

I hear recognition
the colors wane as They realize
that They’re rounding into
the Negro neighborhood

I hear tomorrow’s headline
“Black on Black Violence
(so why riot about police brutality?)”
but that’s only if this life
is deemed newsworthy

I hear acceptance
feet shuffle from the scene
though I have some life left in me

108

You might also like…

Poetry

The Cat Who Purred

Susan Lendroth

In a small cottage in a deep valley, an old woman lived with her goats and sheep, chickens and dog, a sway-backed horse and one ginger cat.

Each morning, she collected eggs while the dog led the ...  [+]

Poetry

Saudades

Susan Ayotte

For Amy



Emilio's mother was long-practiced in the art of summoning a saint. For a burn, she'd appeal to the apostle John. It was John who got the call twice a day for a year when Emilio was ...  [+]

Poetry