Our Indictment Poem by Neso Onyeuche

'Black Lives Matter'
says the activist.
she has been here ages.
daunting though this age is,
she is not afraid.
'Black Lives Matter.'

'All Lives Matter'
says the bystander,
passing in his Audi.
he dislikes the way she
makes it exclusive.
'All Lives Matter.'

She is silent.
let him drive away.
she won't try to explain,
to someone free of rain,
the pang of wet socks.
She is silent.

what a joke.
what a lazy hack.
did Floyd fall
because he was 'All'
and not simply Black?

It must be nice
it seems a real treat
to say 'be inclusive, '
pretend you've touched the stove,
but there was no heat.

can you let us say
what we shouldn't have to?
this is not a choice

this is a response
I call it Our Indictment,
and it's not for 'All'

this is for the many
who were set aside,
brought down,
or cut down,
by virtue of
their race.

And yes, she stayed silent
our muse; the activist.

But she's not the only one with a voice.
so say it like a fact that cannot be denied,
like an argument,
like rebellion.

Black Lives Matter.