war

no peace
until the color of my skin is not the baton you beat me with
no peace
until my black and my brown is no longer a crime
no peace
until I can walk down the street to buy a soda
until I can go for a run
until I can put my hood up because, well, it's a hood and it was designed for that
no peace
until your bones know my humanity, same as your child's
same as you
hustling, striving, working, loving, breathing, human
no peace
until justice is guaranteed, every time
no peace
until arrests are immediate for crimes against black bodies
until criminals cannot hide behind a badge
no peace
until my people stop dying disproportionately
until my people are no longer incarcerated disproportionately
until our peaceful protest doesn't fear violent aggression from power
until "protect and serve" no longer means "oppress and kill"
until we can kneel where we want
until we can stand where we need
no peace
until WE have peace
until then,
war