Imagine
Finding yourself
Being pulled underwater.
The current taking you out
Into the deep.
You
Try your best
To paddle your feet to the surface.
Gasping
Gagging
Eyes bulging for oxygen.
And the weight of your ankles
Never have the strength
To shake off the anchors
Holding you down.
The chain of subjection.
The more you struggle
The more
The rust of the iron
Cuts into the calves.
Blood introduces the oppression
Of other predators.
Racism
Discrimination
Police Brutality
Profiling
Redlining
Gentrification
Privatized Prisons.
Lungs filled with ocean.
Blacked out.
Being pulled Into the outer darkness.
It’s a wonder why
We are stereotyped on swimming.
Afraid to test the water.
Never taken lessons.
Always second guessing
How cold it is
How deep it can get.
How long can you hold your breath?
Until
Emmitt Till is found
In Tallahatchie River?
Until
They’re ready to give penicillin
To Macon County sharecroppers?
Until Eric Garner
And George Floyd
Get their second wind?
We put our hands up
To be rescued.
Waving a white flag in hopes
Of a fitted life jacket.
Instead
Body bagged
Toe tagged
Target practice for the next
Victim.
It’s not that we just can’t breathe
But we’ve been out of breath
Since slave catchers and dog bites.
We’ve been
Back of the Bus tired.
We’ve been
Klan rally gag ordered.
We’ve been
Vietnam Frontlined.
We’ve been
Flint water poisened.
Hell
Being short of breath
And
Asthmatic
Tends to be life’s custom.
To be an American
Is one thing.
To be an African American
Well…
Let’s just see how long
You can hold your breath.
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