scraps of identity
too often wrung of pride
basked in heat blazing of privilege
hems picked and pulled
scrubbed with a hatred
that kills not soft nor subtle nor slow
but a hard, gut-wrenching hatred
that burns and blisters till festered
and as the sun reaches its peak
a heat so unbearable that
scraps weathered and worn
pinned with slurs that turn to fists
assemble to be hemmed and stitched
though broken and bruised
tanned by scorched oppression
blood of life splattered
there is strength, resilience,
the vitality of a culture
rallying rich and fragrant as ever
brought together by cries
of anger and love and pride
hardened by screams for mercy
the softened gasp of not one life
but futures, families, careers,
too many to count - robbed.
scraps bonded for justice
fostering art of voice,
of spirit, of action
vibrant and demanding to be heard
stitched with old thread
covered in patches and fabrics anew
for do not forget
as the sun rises again,
so will we
scrapped in unity
a community built to thrive
under the harshest of heat
and the pledge of allies
beautiful and diverse
stitching arms and hearts
to fight as one.
the len(z) 