It is blackout
It is bloodout
I can’t get through
The fences are fences
The guns are guns
The people are people
I can’t hear gunshots
but I can’t forget
I can’t smell tear gas
but I can’t forget
I am far away
but I won’t go away
Bodies left to bleed
in blackout news
will not go away
This shower is blood—
the rain I need—
to rinse memory clean
but memory wakes
to streets on fire
with freedom dance
It is blackout
It is bloodout
I can’t get through
but I can’t go away