Not covered 

Being black 

Is a pre existing condition 

Armed 

A camera 

In a black man’s hand 

Shoot these scenes 

Shot 

Again and again 

These scenes 

Played out 

The only thing new is that camera 

This cancer a pre existing condition 

Not covered 

This is a pre existing condition 

Predation predates this uncovering 

It’s not new if you live it 

This is a pre existing condition 

Gone viral 

We’ve been septic for generations 

Nothing new 

Except to see 

What they told us 

Again and again and again 

We refused to cover 

This 

Pre existing condition 

Asked the patient to heal themselves 

To heel themselves 

Of this pre existing condition 

Uncovered 

None of this was under cover 

Under our noses 

This pre existing condition 

Gone viral 

Systemic 

Not covered 

Denied 

Again and again 

Systemic 

This pre existing condition 

Overflowing, 

A tsunami of droplets 

Each of them nameless 

Formless 

You could flick them aside with a 

Wave

After ceaseless pounding

 drop

To your knees 

Smile 

Open wide 

Drink 

Just a sip

Drink 

just the ocean 

Smile 

At least I have

Stuck in my throat 

At least I have

True 

At least 

I have 

Small comfort 

Relative truths always sound hollow 

hands 

Raw and bloody 

Slice 

Squeeze 

Slice squeeze slice 

Smile 

Waterboarded with lemonade 

Drop by wave by drop

Bristling 

    Expect 

Only that a mad dog 

Will bite 

They are made for this 

No accident 

These teeth 

We bred them 

Praise their restraint

For mauling 

Junkyard rather than guards

They are the wild things 

The old west 

Released without the benefit of romance 

We should have known better 

We bred them for this  

Prowling 

A violent, foaming impunity 

Did not train them to listen 

Myopic sight hounds 

They chase because something runs 

Leash them

Bring them to heel 

Cull the pack