if it wasn’t so easy to be an activist through twitter
if the protest didn’t happen during the football game
let me explain

if i had skin in the game
more time
if it was like Selma
if my daughter’s life was
or my son

i’m about to leave this city for good
but right now i’m eating breakfast
really busy
i work full-time and no one’s asked me
directly

maybe when i get another job

but i sign petitions
vote in every election
protest through my art

if i was younger and more energetic
if i had less to lose       more to lose
when i’m older

the courts will decide
don’t break the laws
wait

don’t alienate people
like me         who make the laws
or pick the grand juries

what do you mean you can’t wait