I can't breathe.
I can’t breathe
The world watched
This blue take another black life
His knee representing millions more
George, another link in the chain
Suffocating the breadth of history
Didn’t even seem to phase the man who swore
To protect and serve
But it’s never bothered most of those
Who benefit from these old ways
But all lives matter they say
I can’t breathe
The ventilator is doing its best
To replace her COVID lungs
Another virus spreading and stealing
Spreading ignorance, stealing unity
No more masks they chant
Because, ironically, they can’t breathe
At least not like they are used to
And they have rights you know
But all lives matter they say
I can’t breathe
Were the last words
That slipped from his lips
Hanging from the rope
Clinging to his rainbow flag
And equally colorful heart
His dad forbade him from using
Because the Bible does too
He preached the only thing worse
than slavery Is being gay
But all lives matter they say
I can’t breathe
Trying to keep the water out
Trying to keep his head up
While the boat sinks
Along with his dreams
On the way to the land of opportunity
That told him he wasn’t welcome
Because it’s already full of people
Too different and too needy
And it wants to be great again
But all lives matter it says
I can’t breathe
She cries from under him
I know there’s a lot to see
But don’t forget about me
Bearing the weight
of his toxic masculinity
In my bedroom
You like it he lies
and my boardroom
You can’t be CEO he sighs
But all lives matter he says
I can’t breathe
the poor plead
Under the weight of corporate greed
I myself can’t breathe
Under the weight of ignorance and pride
And I feel guilty because
I can
In privilege and fragility and
supremacy that I abhor
And benefit from at the same time
I can’t breathe
It’s Jesus this time
If he’s somehow alive
he must be living in hell
Constantly begging for life
while his followers steal it from him again.
Repeatedly killing this poor guy.
Who probably wonders why
They still don’t listen to anything he ever said
Too busy worshiping the dead
But don’t worry they pray.
Dear god show us the way
Jesus come back soon
They plead in the most ironic way
It’s hard to see
When you have your eyes closed
But all lives matter they say.
This poem appears in the book Anger Zen.