Fighting Our Own War Poem by Vanessa Kingsley

Color
Race
It all comes into play in the war

Not Iraq
Not Afghanistan

Our war
When you can’t walk out your front door

When you need to protect your own
When you’re in the family

You’re in
No turning back

Running from the problems in your life
Peace of mind kept by a piece of steel

Is fear respect?
Is respect fear?

This our war
Our way

Hustle to have a place to sleep
Kill so you can walk the streets
Run so you won’t be caught

We never said we liked it
Never said we wanted it

You’re drafted
There is no choice

You’re in
Or out

Or dead

This is our war
We fight everyday
This is out war
And we will survive by any means necessary
Looking at the engraved words
Etched in stone

We fight for this
We fight for them

Don’t pretend to care
Be honest

Everyday we fight
Everyday we grow tired

You don’t know what its like
Instead of chastising us

Help us
This is a war…