Never Forget

1.
Humble home
growing out of any landscape
in any era.

Land grabbers’ bullets
course bouncing through and
through.

A man comes running,
shooting, alone,
just to fall anyway.

The rest in their imminent 
targets, wondering if it is better
to stay and wait.

2.
Shipping
west upon
the Middle Passage.

A stirring
among
the cargo. 

Then, overboard:
a man,
a woman, two children.

The rest below,
wondering
if this would be better.

3.
Two assertions
of ownership
pushing into the sky.

First one retort,
then another,
buckling them. 

Now, abandoning them,
come many.  Hard to say
who from here; they are trying to fly.

The rest inside, choking,
wondering
if this would be better.

4.
There is
tragedy built into
the support of this world.

The owners
are the only ones
temporarily immune,

and the owners
change.  Always,
the owners change.

Do not
forget
this.

Do not forget
how the illusion
may break. 

Do not forget
the silver grace
of escape.  

Do not forget
the red joy
of resistance. 

Do not forget
that you may be
called upon.

Do not forget
your freedom 
to choose.