no sane reason in poetry

Do not blame people for being mad that
the police are killing people for no sane reason.
Be mad that the police
are killing people for no sane reason.
Anger is a rational reaction
to state-sanctioned horrors.
Anger is not a rational reaction
to people pointing out the obvious
raising their voices against the obvious
trying desperately to end
the horrifying obvious.
Anger is not a rational reaction
to that.
Anger is a rational natural reaction
to people forgiving murder
because it’s in their cultural blindspot.
Anger is a rational natural reaction
to people forgiving murder
because it isn’t happening
to “them”.
Anger is a rational natural reaction
to a system looking the other way
at murders because if they looked
closely at the murders the system
would have to undo its own underpinnings
in any real effort to make
the pattern of murders end.
Anger is a natural reaction
to the police murdering people
holding nothing more than a book
or cell phone or a can of tea
or seizure medication
then getting away with it
because of the victim’s physical complexion.
Do not blame people for being mad that
the police are killing people for no sane reason.
There is no sane reason for that.

Oh, be angry.
Be desperately angry.
Froth with anger.
Shake with anger.
Scream with anger.
But be angry at the people
with the power
who won’t make it stop
because making it stop
would mean giving up
a portion of their power.
Be desperately angry.
At the people
who deserve it.