Relentless (written 4/20/21)

 Written last night after hearing of the murder of Ma’Khia Bryant by police- it happened within minutes of the Chauvin verdict being announced.

Relentless

This country’s appetite

For bent

broken

bleeding

pleading

Black and Brown bodies

Is relentless

Pearly hard enamel

Riot shields

Tyvek vests

Immunity

Hiding rot

Shielding

Broken boys and girls

In suits and boots

Who were lied to

Told they inherited the earth

And given guns and gavels

To stand their ground

Sharp picks

In the aftermath

digging deep

Into tender places

Drawing blood and little mercy

And rarely a just verdict

Arms up

In surrender

In protest

In prayer

To just make it fucking stop

For one day.

And then another.

And another.

Until the legacy

Of our country

Resisting

Fighting

Beating back

White supremacy

Is as long and proud and statued

As the wicked, bloody one

We’ve paid tribute to

For far too long.

-Jaime Jenett

4/20/21