“A riot is the language of the unheard.”
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
Set fire to the streets
where George Floyd
was lynched.
Blow up the notion that
being Black is punishable
by death.
Tear this motherfucker down
the blue shield enabling
these acts of terror.
Dump gas on the fire fueling
people’s fury with the futility
of having this happen again.
Another Black man slain
in the name of justice.
Another oppressor sticking his knee
into the neck of progress.
“I can’t breathe... please stop!”
Stop pretending this will get better
and won’t happen again.
“I can’t breathe... please stop!”
Stop blaming victims
and talk about systemic racism instead.
“I can’t breathe... please stop!”
Stop the insanity
and scream “no justice, no peace!”
“I can’t breathe... please stop!”
Stop playing by biased rules
fight fire with fire.
And burn
baby
burn!
Scott C. Kaestner is a Los Angeles poet, writer, dad, husband, and former coworker to many. Google ‘scott kaestner poetry’ to peruse his musings and doings.