silence is savage
by Heidi Kraay
white skin does dangerous damage
the blood
the bites
my animal body breaks for you
train passing over spine
your heavy howls
I will not ignore your trauma
I stand with you
I write
I want to do more
watching over shoulder
when my throat’s all tangled like now
face pressed to pulp
I’ve been mangled
but not so bad as you
brutality hits New York
hits and hits
this normal, awful, always thing
wild lunging lead
violence veiled in order
I am no better
I could join every protest
the burning
cracks me
from here
I’m scared
mashed like squash
or him, or her, or him or…
Missouri Florida Michigan Ohio Cali
I speak silence
I’m afraid to lose work
lose family
ego
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