I Cry for Our Trayvons ... a poem

I Cry for Our Trayvons

I cry for Trayvons around the country
not just because they are slaughtered
with no remorse or repentance
and not only because they're too young
with too many years of life left to live
and too much promise before them

I cry for our Trayvons
not just because they're precious human beings
made in the image of God
and look like my younger brother, little cousins
our even our president 30 or so years ago

No, I cry for our Trayvons
because the society we live in doomed them
from birth

Because America's sick systems
brand them as feared criminals
before they ever pick up a toy gun

recite words from a rap song 

or spend hours playing Halo

I cry for our Trayvons
because they have to prove their humanity
as if they weren't born with a beating heart
a malleable mind
God's breath in their lungs
and the potential to live as US citizens, unquestioned

I weep and I sob
because the ONLY ones who care are few
because there is NO hope the way things remain
because Americans resist REAL change

because over 400 years later 

this land remains the same

 

and

 

I shake my head 

because we walk around like sheep, blind and dumb
chasing silver and gold that we can't attain
refusing to love but expecting to be loved

ignorant of our identity, history -- the Truth!

and condemning without caring about black youth

 

I'm tired of shedding tears over spilled blood on the leaves
or moaning for a country that doesn't care about me or my babies
Marching in the streets won't change anything

Do we lack the courage to do what's really necessary?

~cdw~
7/23/13