Poem: fear

fear 

i got up this morning and made breakfast without fearing for my life. 

i stood on my porch sipping tea without fearing for my life.

i waved at my neighbor without fearing for my life.

i planted rose bushes in my garden without fearing for my life.

mid-afternoon i took a nap without fearing for my life.

i woke up and walked around my block without fearing for my life.

on my walk i saw a police officer and didn’t fear for my life.

i  walked back home with my hood on and didn’t fear for my life.

that evening i had a fight with my family without fearing for my life.

i played music on my speakers without fearing for my life.

before bed i looked at my melanin skin and felt thankful for my life.

this killing of our Black brothers and sisters ceases life before it begins.

i can’t breathe.

i can’t breathe.

i can’t breathe.

when a gun meets a Black man, does it not see a life? when the cries of Black woman birth a Black baby, do we not see a life? when we sit silently as our Black brothers and sisters are being killed at the hands of oppressive forces, are we not devaluing Black lives? 

i can’t breathe if you can’t breathe.

-Teresa Mettela
Junior Girl 
Girl Museum Inc.