So, this poem was part of a collaboration I was slated to do with a few Steemians, but ultimately they decided that it just wasn't what they were looking for.

This is probably the second most political you'll hear me get. The subject is very recognizable, especially for any of you yahoos living in the US of A like me.

I had to edit this poem a little bit to take the plot/characters out. Now, hopefully, it will function as a stand-alone.

Red Mud and Black Blood

_{This flag once flew over the NAACP headquarters until 1938. Dread Scott re-hung it in protest of police violence. There's an article about it here}

"Hey man, I'm all about that loving-others business," said the police officer to the bullet resting in his 'firearm's' chamber.
"I'm cool with all races, genders, identities." The police officer spoke with a clarity he hadn't known before, as he
whet his thirst on the young body beneath his
well-trained anger,
well-trained violence.

He got his boots cleaned last week because they were
caked with red mud and black blood,
Excuse me.
Black mud and red blood.
Right?

The police officer, he turned to the badge upon his chest,
the bars running to two ends of his biceps, and said
"I'm socially liberal; I'm not a number," as he
signs paperwork to state how "unintentional casualties" were
caused.

He clears his throat from speaking so long.

There's a bullet that needs be told a new story.
There's a broken body that yearns for truth.

Speak truth!

Your words make it true. You give power to the truth when you
speak it into being.
You create with your tongue as does the God locked in your ribs.
Let Him out!
Let Her light shine out of you!
Those boots with their black blood and red mud.
Yes, I mean black blood and red mud!
Those boots need to stay dirty; set them on the
altar of your church,
the desk at your school, the
kitchen table in your homes. We owe it to ourselves to let the
dirty remain dirty and the clean stay clean.
That badge upon his chest knows better.
That young child knew better.
That bullet in his gun knows better than to believe his words.
There's something deeper here.
Let the light know the light and the darkness show its
hand.
Open your eyes!
You know what's before you.
Look at yourself in the mirror. There's power behind those eyes;
there's a voice in that mouth;
there's a truth buried in that skin.

Don't you know better?

~

I hope you enjoyed it. I can't say "liked" it because I didn't like writing it nor do I enjoy facing what's being spoken here. I hope y'all have a great rest of your day. Stay safe, love brightly, and God bless <3