Just stop

(penned June 14, 2016)

In the news I see
Churches becoming
Charnel houses
In the news I see
Rape charges becoming
Rampant injustices
In the news I see
Nightclubs becoming
Nazi death camps
In the news I see
Movie theaters becoming
Mass grave sites
In the news I see
Schoolyards becoming
Shooting galleries

STOP!

The hatred has to
STOP
The venom has to
STOP
The anguish has to
STOP
The vengeance has to
STOP

We want it to end
We feel the need
To hit someone
To hurt someone
But we have to be the ones
To STOP

We want vengeance
We want justice
We want retribution
But we have to
STOP

We have to take a minute
Unlike them
We have to pause
Unlike them
We have to bow
Unlike them
We have to
STOP

And remember
That God keeps better records
Than us
He says vengeance is His
He will repay

So if we
STOP
And let Him take over
Then we can
STOP
The hate
STOP
The violence
STOP
The anguish
STOP
The injustices

Just
STOP
please...

My Black Heart

My Black heart isn't broken
It's been stepped on
It's been stomped on
It's bled
It's been abused
It's stuttered
It's even stopped.
Sometimes it felt like
It had even been shattered.
But it's a strong heart
Because it still beats.
Trayvon, Emmitt, Sandra, Alton
My heart will beat for yours
Now stilled
I still hear your heartbeat
And mine
Will continue the rhythm
My heart isn't broken
It's been shattered
But it still beats
And will continue to beat
To the tune of justice
My heart isn't broken
It still works