ancient olive tree
planted by the hands of god
man has cut you down
to fuel fires of hubris wars
forging hate’s eternal ring
fear
asthma enlightenment…
unable to breathe
lungs refuse to fill with air
death reveals itself
no visions seen of heaven
just desperate aspirations
barriers…
no need for brick walls
fear and ignorance suffice
to hold out the truth
no rebuttals…
living in the west
one learns to fear the silence
before tornadoes
up in the air…
how many
prophets
preach
this way
to
heaven
how many
candles
must
be lit
to
find peace
how many
silent
tears
are shed
while
alone
how many
voices
fill
night air
with
prayers
how many
cold nights
can
one heart
beat
alone
how many
prayers
are
raisins
in
the sun
needing god’s reassurance…
grabbed my garden hose
sprayed water into the light
needed a rainbow
officer-involved shooting…
without restraint
the living
become
the dead
a pregnant mother
becomes
a police shooting
her children
become
orphans
without restraint
the orphans
become
the living dead
their mother’s
touch
a memory
wrapped
in tomorrow’s hate
and
tomorrow’s hate
grows
without
restraint
