“A Moment of Silence” by Micah Rivas ’19
17 minutes stretch like 17 body bags dragged across a white flag
like a heavy handed child who broke through the page
red stripes and the smell of metal and salt
in the bags are white bodies
that’s why this is important
Now.
when the blood dries it will turn brown
like the body bags piled on the street
Lives taken by men who think their badge is a license to kill
bags full of brown bodies who died with their hands up
hands up against the blue square, fingers stretch the material like latex
until the blue looks white, fingertips like the 5 points of a star
my eyes hurt from crying because I know that could have been me
maybe I’ll cry bleach tears and wipe my melanin off with my pain
today its suffocates me like i covered every pore with paint
but everyday it is the source of my pride