I Can't Breathe
July 22, 2020
Breath Taking
It’s sweltering hot chained to the dark hull of this sailing ship
I can’t breathe
This white man’s sweat-stenched body pounding on top of me
I can’t breathe
Shot by a U.S. Army soldier on my own people’s reservation
I can’t breathe
This noose around my neck yanked by my own body weight tightens so fast
I can’t breathe
Thrown in a dark solitary cell for marching for women’s right to vote
I can’t breathe
Shoved off the train and crammed into this gas chamber
I can’t breathe
Thick smoke from the fire and I'm trapped on the top floor of this shirt factory
I can’t breathe
Deep in this old coal mine, the soot is so dense
I can’t breathe
An innocent man waiting for the switch in this cold electric chair
I can’t breathe
Dying of AIDS all alone, people too afraid to touch me
I can’t breathe
A young gay man beaten and tied to a ranch fence post out on this prairie
I can’t breathe
Attacked in a dark alley, I'm left to die for being trans
I can’t breathe
I'm a second grader fallen from my desk, gunned down in my elementary school classroom
I can’t breathe
People running and screaming from this gay nightclub, I am hit
I can’t breathe
Can’t take this bullying anymore, I decided to hang myself, at last
I can’t breathe
Quietly worshiping in my mosque, then I am shot in the neck out of nowhere
I can’t breathe
Lost my job and my healthcare, now I'm dying from cancer alone at home
I can’t breathe
My husband beat me harder than usual today, I’m crumpled on the floor
I can’t breathe
My black head is locked in this white police choke hold
I can’t breathe
They tore me from my mother’s arms and put me all alone in this cage
I can’t breathe
Walking in a peaceful protest, they shot tear gas in my face
I can’t breathe
Left in this COVID ICU bed, no family allowed, this hoax will kill me yet
I can’t breathe
An innocent black man, I got this police boot on my neck eight minutes, 46 seconds
I can’t breathe
Kristin L Roush