Rise Up

now

Photo by Barbara Burgess on Unsplash

Rise Up 
for Renee Nicole Good

I used to believe in safe,
in this country, at least
That’s gone, none 
of us secure anymore
We can be shot in our car
on the street
through the walls of our homes
in a school, oh my God,
in a school
Wrestled to the ground
and smothered
for being the “wrong” color
How can color be wrong?
for loving the wrong person
How can love ever be wrong?

Rise up. Stand in your truth
peacefully     lovingly
Rise up!