Peel my skin
and a few more layers.
Rip through my flesh
and grind it to pieces.
Will you not find
a heart
like yours?
Will you not find
blood running through my veins
like yours?
Will you not find lungs
struggling for air
like yours?
Tell me, was I born with an organ called
violence?
Did the color of skin I was born with
tattoo danger all over me?
What gives you the right
to strip me of my humanity?
What gives you the right
to take away the life
that you did not give to me?
Did the color of your skin make
you more worthy of life
than me?
No, sir.
You keep your life and
let me keep mine.
I only want my heart to beat out of my chest
out of love,
not fear of your gun.