Ewuare X. Osayande, poet and educator, is editor of the recently released Stand Our Ground: Poems for Trayvon Martin and Marissa Alexander, a global anthology of social justice poetry (www.standourgroundbook.com).
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They Will Kill You
(Ira Bostic / Shutterstock)
they will kill you
and say I’m sorry
and expect your mother to
forgive and forget
she ever gave birth to you
carried you in love for nine months
endured labor
and pushed you out with God’s might moving in her hips
ever fed you life from her bosom
or how you smelled like heaven after she washed you
that she ever watched you take your first steps
speak your first words
ever tucking you into bed with stories that rocked you to sleep
the many nights she prayed for your protection
or how excited she was the day you gave your first recital
that she ever taught you to be good and kind
ever beamed with pride
whenever you got an A on your test
that she ever wanted the best in this world for you