<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">It Doesn’t Feel Like A Time To Write<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">being black feels like a lot right now.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">they shot a man then they shot</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">the people mourning the man.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">they shot a man while he was</div><blockquote style="box-sizing: inherit; quotes: none; padding: 10px 20px; margin: 20px 12px 20px 18px; width: auto; background-color: rgb(252, 252, 252); border-left-width: 5px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); overflow: hidden; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class=""><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em;" class="">a. handcuffed</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em;" class="">b. walking away</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px;" class="">c. already dead</p></blockquote><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">the terrorists i fear played balled with the cops</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">or they is the cops. i ain’t got much left to give</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">these poems, black folks of every kind</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">of body are dying, & yes at our own</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">hands too & before you start</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">pointing fingers wash yo bloody</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">bloody hands. if you still say</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">things like <i style="box-sizing: inherit;" class="">we need</i> <i style="box-sizing: inherit;" class="">all the info,</i></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><i style="box-sizing: inherit;" class="">there must be a reason</i></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">then i can’t waste</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">anymore time on you. the world</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">is burning for real for real – some</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">some us burning, some staying warm.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">i turn to the cards, the stars,</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">G-d, the gods, my sweet dead, all them</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">say it’s an age of smoke. i pray to everything</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">i’ve been taught to pray towards.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">i smoke a blunt, drink the last of the whiskey</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">but nothing brings me peace.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">i got a fear of being black in public</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">& white folks are raised to fear of me.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">niggagoraphobia has taken over the nation</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">& i’ve never been more afraid</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">of a white man’s temper.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">in my dreams all the black folks</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">turn to ants & America is a toddler</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">stomping us out – she’s so damn scared</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">& we can’t get away.</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">//</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">i’d be lying if i said i wasn’t scared. every word</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">i say translate to <i style="box-sizing: inherit;" class="">farewell</i>. joy feels like a kind</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">of revolt. sometimes i’m just your average</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">American: too broke & late for brunch, looking</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">for a new job & hungover, just trying to Netflix</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">& fuck a little bit then you watch the news or</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">you hear the worry in your mama’s voice when</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">she tells you to be careful driving cause the ice</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">is slick & the cops is bad & she know both</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">can lead to an <i style="box-sizing: inherit;" class="">accident</i></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">//</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">my friends are in the streets again because again</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">& again & so forth & how many more?</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">poems feel so small right now</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">my little machines fail me</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">all i’ve ever wanted to say:</div><blockquote style="box-sizing: inherit; quotes: none; padding: 10px 20px; margin: 20px 12px 20px 18px; width: auto; background-color: rgb(252, 252, 252); border-left-width: 5px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(225, 232, 237); overflow: hidden; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" class=""><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em;" class="">1. We are tired of your reality</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em;" class="">2. Until we are guilty the same as you</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em;" class="">3. We beg for peace but you hear <i style="box-sizing: inherit;" class="">fire!</i></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em;" class="">4. What you call country, we call the reaping</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 1.4em; padding-bottom: 0px;" class="">5. Stop killing us</p></blockquote><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">//</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">America, my sweet boy</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">your lips turn into a cleaver</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">when you kiss my neck</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">//</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">if a white man who murdered is allowed</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">to be gentle & a black body murdered</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">is assumed at fault – if my son gets shot, who</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">gets mourned? him or the bullet?</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">//</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">it doesn’t feel like a time to write</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">when all my muses are begging</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class="">for their lives.</div><div class=" buzz_superlist_item_narrow buzz_superlist_item buzz_superlist_item_section_divider buzz-superlist-item buzz-superlist-item-section_divider no_caption" id="superlist_4256605_8711893" rel:buzz_num="3" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; position: relative; padding: 0px; margin: 28px 0px 20px; max-width: 720px; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><div class="section-divider__container 8711893" style="box-sizing: inherit; width: 720px; margin: 0px auto; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"></div></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Danez Smith</div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; font-size: inherit; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia, cambria, serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; font-size: inherit; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia, cambria, serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; font-size: inherit; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia, cambria, serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 12px; font-size: inherit; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: georgia, cambria, serif;" class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">
<div class=""><div style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;" class="">“Be joyful though you have considered all the facts.”</div><div style="orphans: 2; widows: 2;" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Wendell Berry</div></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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