Thursday, February 9, 2017

Where Were You

Where were you
When they told us we were less
When they demeaned us for our sex
When they put us to the test
And we failed

Where were you
When the hate spread like fire
When we drowned in disquiet
When we rigged the fight
For the male

Where were you 
When Liberty wept
When none of us slept
When we were all left
For dead

Where were you
Not just last night but last month last year 
Were were you
When we were shouting our fears

Look, America, on what you've wrought
Look, America, on what you've taught

Us

Femmes queers 
Any color but white
Natives immigrants
All but the Christian right

Will you burn me for a witch
Will you spurn me for a bitch
Will you learn me
Earn me
My trust
You cannot just
Rebuild what's been broken
Unsay what's been spoken

I love women and
I love queers and
You've flaunted race
And flamed out fears

I am no better for my skin
Or worse for my parts
Than I am for my kin
Than they are for their hearts

We are love 
Where were you 
When love was lost
The game was tossed
Where were you 

If you want love
You fought it
If you want blood
I got it
If you want a fight
I brought it
If you want to be right
You're not it

Where were you
When you lost me
Lost us
Lost Liberty

Where were you
When our fight
Started over?

--11.9.16