times like these in poetry

we send our hearts out so often now
they never have the time to come back
before we send them out again
so we wander through our days
with perpetually empty chests
trying to still pump blood
trying to still hope for the best

because as long as power structures enforce
unequal justice along racial lines
saying “all lives matter” is a lie and
deep down we all know it
as long as some lives matter more than others
this unequality leaves our culture worthless

when police refuse to protect events
where the participants
have protested police violence
how are those cops not fired on the spot?
they’re so proud of their big guns
but what small balls they have got
so sensitive so sensitive
when the onus is on them

you don’t get to disagree with someone’s humanity
or with their rights as humans
your wealth or faith do not allow you that ever
not even in times like these
not even in this sea of insanities
we have to do better
we must be a humane humanity
we send our hearts out so often now
they never have the time to come back
another day dawns
another attack