Duct Tape

I’m a poet

I’m a poet
With duct tape on my mouth
And I’m stuck

I’m stuck between 1984 and 1933
Born on Sacred Land
Son of Earth Eternal
Your brother
Living on land soaked in blood and tears
Thinking I’m safe and loved
But now I’m stuck, groaning through the duct tape

I’m stuck in 1984, man manipulating man
I’m stuck in 1933, man allowing evil men to rise
I’m stuck in 1619, man enslaving fellow man
I’m stuck in 1830, man unleashing savagery upon men he calls savage
I’m stuck in 1948, man displacing cousin
I’m stuck in 1975, man murdering brother
I’m stuck, bawling through the duct tape

I’m stuck between 1984 and 1933
Between faux friends mouthing sympathies while choking my speech
And cruel racists labeling me animal, savage, nothing…

I’m thrown in a prison erected for my mind
My body to the grinder pretending to be justice
My honor to the rapist hailed as beloved hero
My freedom freely given to an oppressor masquerading as perpetual victim
While the world cheers him on
Comforting him in his hour of need
As he runs out of blades to thrust into my flesh

I’m stuck between 1984 and 1933
I share these words, and no one hears
As I yell through the duct tape!

As our feudal lords deplatform me
As harlots mating in the mud defame me
As hypocrites laugh at my misfortune
I scream through the duct tape!

As I lose my livelihood
As I lose my home
As I lose my people
I bellow through the duct tape!

As I lose my family
As I lose my mind
As I lose my soul
I cry through the duct tape!

And no one hears!

Oh, they hear me
They see me
They know
I yell through the duct tape!

It’s right there in streaming words and imagery
Woven with a fabric of lies
A fabric Dyed with the colors of misdirection
A fabric Sold as a flag of othering
A fabric Fetishizing my death on a billion screens
Oh, they hear me!
As I yell through the duct tape