Racism

The Burning Face

If I believed in hell,
I’d tell you what I saw
was Robert E. Lee’s
bearded face burning
red hot with shame

for giving his heart
to that cause, “the … Read more

Asian Solidarity

Urbanscape by Jenn Martin

(TW: Small mention of blood and violence from a racially motivated hate crime.)

Discrimination
Silenced my mother’s native tongue
Coated with Biluochun tea
Spoons … Read more

Harbinger

Image: Wreck of the Slave Ship Clotilda (Public domain)

 New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.
    ― attributed to Lao Tzu “The Old Master,” legendary Chinese philosopher,     Warring States … Read more

Kenosha / Minneapolis

The vile kitten-mouse
Kyle Rittenhouse
weeps on the stand
and goes free.
We now understand
that George Floyd, had he wept
under Derek Chauvin’s knee,
would’ve slept
in his own … Read more

Bad Policing

Should we still identify them as the police?
Patrol the streets for “harmful” black flesh
Bullets and tasers they quickly release
On melanin ones, they chase or catch

Do they … Read more

Love Note of the Fish

Their teeth are like ours as they jump through the air
invasive but no one cared about Asian carp brought here
to tame plants, algae, snails.

Immaculate, their dark skins … Read more

Down with the Ship

Briton among missing
Miami building collapse
citizen both British, U.S.

scores still missing
stories by the dozen
authorities confirm
12 floors fallen

mother
father
baby Patel
internationalize
America’s decay

    (the … Read more