they don’t know about you

Rosa

King

Malcom

names really

and really, it isn’t their fault

in this oasis of tract homes

they teach patriotism

and fake news

individualism

whiteness

but not your history

that you existed in these fields at all

that your fingers

picked the cotton

that the melanin that protected you from

the Arizona sun

it’s the same as the one they pretend

they don’t carry sometimes

it’s easier…. safer, survival 

especially because they don’t know about you

i am overwhelmed with responsibility

with protective impulses

but also drained by this place

so tired

they are the only reason i stay

to give them community

to challenge them

to love on them

to teach them

because

they don’t know about you