everyone went out, and we stayed in
everyone stayed in, and I went out
watched the helicopters circle in the wind
watched the policemen pace with batons out
when the revolution hits, it comes in waves
some eat seafood in the docks, while others float
I wrestle with the ropes. If you don’t have to swim
then maybe you should have already jumped.
everyone went out, and we stayed in
everyone stayed in, and some went out
the city finally looks the way it feels
the people finally expose their hearts.
a friend gave us a Zoom tour of the George Floyd Memorial
panned the camera over a hundred empty graves
the rest of us sat in our dim, stuffy living rooms
weighing our safety against our pain.
Nasim Mansuri 