Gun shots fire so often
it sounds as natural
as the wind blowing
Blood spills so frequently
it flows
like quiet waters
Tears shed so quickly
Then dry up
just as soon as they appeared
The world goes on
And my heart gets weaker
Pain fills my soul
Confusion surrounds me
And gun shots keep firing
And blood keeps spilling
And this time I cry inside
I guard myself against the shock
the hurt,
the helplessness
My fears manifest daily
My eyes see
things I can’t explain
My walls go up
I guard myself against the
realization
That dying by the hand’s of another
is commonplace
And gun shots keep firing
And blood keeps spilling
And this time I cry out loud
For all those who were taken,
stolen,
captured,
murdered,
imprisoned,
mentally, emotionally and physically
By friends,
enemies,
neighbors,
strangers,
prisons,
governments,
evil.
And gun shots keep firing
And blood keeps spilling
And this time I realize it’s time to see
The reality
that in this life
we are perceived as “other”
as “ugly”
as “worthless”
as “less than”
And now it’s finally time to be free
To open my eyes to what has been
as well as what could be
And to not drag my feet
Nor be silent anymore
But to work to stop
the gun shots from firing
And blood from spilling
And the tears from falling
Because this time
I realize
that if I don’t
for me
the gun shots will sound like a song
the blood will become paint for a canvas
the tears will water soil
the pain I once felt, I won’t feel
because I will become numb
then
I become immune.

I wrote this piece after paying attention to different legal and violent issues negatively affecting the black community, my community.  I felt for myself, it is time to move from being passive as it relates to activism, legal issues and crime, to an assertive place of action.  It’s easy to get caught up in the news for a moment, then go back to doing “normal” life things.  It’s hard work to get involved and aid in making a difference in this country.  Because when one of us suffers, we all do.  That is true for my community and yours.  We’re all human and worthy of love and fair treatment.  I’m finally ready.  Are you?