by Bella Melardi
Blood is not the mother tongue
of those born in a red city.
It’s a language they are forced to speak
to survive this pain.
Who would ask for this?
To be born bleeding
their birthright isn’t a graveyard
this is where they live
not what they deserve.
If you believe after years of torment
people reacting without peace
makes them monsters
then baby,
I believe in monsters.
I will never know what it’s like
to be fighting for my life
so why do I get to dictate
what’s wrong with
the way someone does it.
I simply don’t understand.