Teenage dreamer
was embittered
cause he figured
nothing he did
mattered one bit.

Another life lost,
another child fatherless,
another man shot,
another human brutalized
and we see it happen almost live.

T.V. Bobble heads
spin talking points
to demonize the dead;

Drive by mace spray
of those who seek
to make a change;

A little girl cries
and needs milk
to washout her eyes;

A parade of storm troopers
patrol the streets
forcing innocent bystanders
to retreat, get beat,
or arrested on live T.V.

Rubber bullets pounding
against soft skin,
less lethal but still
penetrating,
blood seeping
from those seeking
a peaceful end
to this prevailing system
that locks them in
a recycled state
of grief and suffering

Just to show those
who were seeking an end
to police abuse
of their family and friends,
to all of our human kin,
they give us ultra force.

So now when his peers
cheer for hope
he still feels
the ill-will
of those who seek
to reap
their thrills
from the greed
that kills the seed.
of what we need
to be better.

Couldn’t be bothered to remove your knee
from a man’s neck.

Couldn’t be bothered to protect
the huddled masses of poor,
when you and your buddies can make more
from building machines and waging wars.

Couldn’t be bothered to tell our youth
the deep and painful truth
about our history.

Couldn’t be bothered until you were
inconvenienced;
Until your bosses see this
and you get in trouble
for vile rants.

Couldn’t be bothered to be
a decent human being,
and you wonder why
people cry,
let it burn.

You say you're an ally of change
Raising your fist to the cause of the moment
But we all see you strutting through the streets
Paying no mind to the people around you
Begging on their knees for your grace

Don't tell me your hero story
Don't pretend that you care
If you really want to show me
Just say that you know me
When the world's injustice comes to bear
Down on me

The weight is on my shoulders
But you can lend a hand
This cross is mine to bear
But you can help me up
When it falls
Down on me

Don't sell me your tales of noble glory
Don't play the savior's role
If you really want to show me
Just say that you know me
When the world's injustice comes to bear
Down on me

When the axeman takes his swing
It falls down on me
When the gavel drops from above
It falls down on me
When the house of cards falls apart
It falls down on me

you'd be PUT INto confinement
in a lunatic asylum
for posting a pic. some view as being spiteful
[for some info, check the notes]
doing what Navalny
does, you'd pick up a fine in
the sum of a few tens of mills of rubles &, aside from
that, your bank account would wind up frozen
[not to mention later things happened to him]
that's that nutless power-overdosed fiend
being put out sim. to a bone when
you fell down during drunk strolling
better to block up your front door with
something, 'cause for some content getting posted
you'd get it chainsawed by ******* special forces
in the dead of night; after the unwanted guests have stormed in
you'd get toppled to the floor, then
you'd be submitted to beating
the whole picture's having your little kids screaming
then some of your stuff becomes forfeit
later, it turns out you're not the right person
they've left with your property stolen
that's the rotten syst. working
autocracy's growing

If you are black, they can,

shoot up your car,
come into your home
without probable cause,
beat you down,
****** you on the streets
while being recorded,
demonize you after the fact,
get away with it.

If you are black
and take a stand
you will be seen as the enemy
by at least half of your society,
even if your trying to
help your community.

You will be imprisoned unjustly,
and even after you’re free
they will try to prevent
or impede
your right to vote.

This is not a fake news reality
this is something that is
quite openly done.

The year 2020 was the year
grief wrapped itself around our bones
and tightened its grip
as thousands of spirits were ripped from flesh
and hurled into the night sky

The year 2020 was also the year
the cup of injustice overflowed
with rage embracing bitterness
while history demanded
closer scrutiny

The year 2020 will be remembered as
the beginning
the end
the turning point
the arrow that pierced
hope reborn
beauty for ashes
and not simply
as the year of fires and screams

I’ve always wondered what your intention was
You see, the intention is what makes all the difference
I know now that you intended to trap me
To make me behave as you wish

You tried to learn about me so you could figure out how to control me
Your words that gave me hope, you said them to trap me
I don’t think you ever meant to stay loyal to your words
How is anyone supposed to trust you when your words mean nothing

You like to own things; you’ve shown me that
You are so proud of all the things you own
Do you understand that I am not a thing?
I am a conscious person

You are so used to control; it was like second nature for you to try and trap me

But you see,
You have no right to trap me, to control me, to have power over me

You have no right,
Because I am mine and mine alone
Do you understand?