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Poetry
Riot Control
"Riot Control" - 6/25/22
 
"It is physically impossible for you to become pregnant
Anymore..."
 
Someone in my social oval felt prompted to point
Out
 
As though that logistical fact in any way diffuses the
Attack
 
As if my inability to suffer equally (even terminally) as
Sisters
 
Will across this great, broken nation could in any way
Alleviate
 
My concern, my frustration, my anger. Are we not all
Taught
 
Empathize, put ourselves in one another's shoes as
Barometers
 
Of compassion, humanity, ethics? I have no trouble
Recounting
 
The fact that - in my relative youth and beyond - I went
Panicked
 
In the middle of the night as a rule to emergency
Rooms
 
Loving partners in tow (no one night stands here) in
Need
 
Of morning after (morning of) pills as no method is
Perfect
 
What broke back then will break again the word over
Regardless
 
Of my personal circumstance and so the "why do you
Care?"
 
Subtext perceived from words meant to assure me
Unwittingly
 
Becomes a flare for selfishness I try not to judge but
Time
 
Is a continuum and if you believe as I always have any
One
 
Of us could be the other any sister, any cousin, brother
 
What does it matter my procreating abilities are over?
Why
 
Does something have to affect someone personally
Anyway
 
For it to "hit home" these days have we really become
So
 
Inhumane? Standing on the corner of my proverbial
Lawn
 
I hold up a sign that clearly and unequivocally shouts
"This
 
Is wrong!" And whether or not you choose to join my
Voice
 
If you love me at all you will acknowledge my
Presence
 
What does it mean to respect someone you love if not
Listening
 
What does it mean to protect someone you call
Blood
 
If not providing safe passage home when I look back
Youth
 
Was fraught with adults masking danger to the
Point
 
Where, left to my own growing up, I raised myself
More
 
Than once from the ashes and was lifted by literal
Angels
 
To those in my life who asked the right questions but
Never
 
Forced my answers - you know who you are - I say
This
 
Special prayer of gratitude, reminding myself, gently,
Strength
 
Is acquired through solidarity bravery is inspired by
Consistency
 
So yes; my days of worrying about birth control are
Past
 
But my nights, sleepless with worry of what
Wrenching
 
Away of fellow sisters' and LGBTQ+ and goddess
Knows
 
Who else's ability to steer our bodily destinies safely is
Just
 
Beginning harnessing brainstorming communicating
Outtatheway
 
Tear gas is supposedly a last resort to disperse unruly
Crowds
 
Deemed unsafe to the general public or police
Force
 
Is not supposed to be used unless absolutely
Necessary
 
G-d bless Theocracy land that I love / stand beside
Her
 
And guide her through the night with the light from
Above