i am not scared of the police

i am not scared of the police
because i was born with the proper armor
forget chainmail or helmets
who needs that when your protection is a part of you
embedded in my very exterior
a part of the skin i wear

how strange it is that something as simple as a color can be the difference between

life

or

death

how strange it is that our hearts all beat
our lungs all breathe
we all have blood running in our veins
yet
it is the sheath of our soul that determines our worth

how strange it is
that due process only applies
for the athlete turned rapist
the lone wolf turned shooter

never the father selling cigarettes
or the man pulling out his license
or the child on the playground fiddling with a toy gun

of course all lives matter.

but when you break a bone
you focus on the fracture
never do you find the doctor saying
"all bones matter"
of course all bones matter
but it's time to take care of the one that's hurting

i am not scared of the police
because i was born with the proper armor
but i will not rest easy in my protection
i know my brothers and sisters are strong enough to fight on their own
they've overcome mountains taller than the summit of everest
endured storms more violent than the gales of bermuda
they've been chained and broken and stepped upon

and still

like air

they rise

so i will not call myself helpless
i will not stay silent

because
black lives matter
black lives matter
black lives matter