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I WOULD START FIRES TOO
Posted in Favourite Poems on 10 February 2021 1 min read
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I WOULD START FIRES TOO

IF I KNEELED PEACEFULLY
AND WAS RIDICULED
AND MY VOICE NOT HEARD
I WOULD START FIRES TOO

IF FLAMES WERE LOUDER THAN
MY SCREAMS
THAT ECHOED THROUGHOUT GENERATIONS
AND FELL SILENT ON THIS NATION
I WOULD BURN DOWN EVERY CITY
OUT OF MY FRUSTRATION

IF THOSE WHO KILLED MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
BLAMED US
FOR THEIR SENSELESS VIOLENCE
I TOO WOULD LIGHT A MATCH
AND SHOW THEM HOW IT FEELS
TO BE SILENCED

WHO AM I
IN A POSITION OF PRIVILEGE
TO TELL THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED
HOW TO REACT TO OPPRESSION
AS IF THEIR BEHAVIOUR
WASN'T A RESPONSE TO THE TRAUMA
WE HAVE CREATED
AND THEIR MORAL CHARACTER
WAS WHAT IS IN QUESTION

IF I CANNOT SEE THE FIRES
AS A RESULT OF VOICES
THAT HAVE BEEN EXTINGUISHED
NEEDING MY ATTENTION

I AM THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE UNDER A MICROSCOPE
I AM THE ONE WHOSE CHARACTER
SHOULD BE IN QUESTION

- Emma Zeck

Anger Black Lives Matter Emma Zeck Empathy Oppression Trauma


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