<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="">In Black</div><div style="font-size: 17px;" class=""><i class=""> (written when the United States invaded Iraq in 2003)</i></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The day they started bombing (they, not we</div><div class="">Because we do not have bombs), I put on black.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I folded away red, yellow, rage, and</div><div class="">Hope. I tucked greens, blues, anticipation</div><div class="">And desire in a neat corner</div><div class="">And I put on black.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The day they started bombing (they, not we</div><div class="">Because we do not have bombs) I stacked olive, tan,</div><div class="">Quietude and rest in the cabinet.</div><div class="">And I put on black.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The day they started bombing (they, not we</div><div class="">Because we do not have bombs) I watched orange</div><div class="">Shower up in spectacular sparks like</div><div class="">A desert bonfire. I put away my scarves, silver bracelets,</div><div class="">Amulets and laughter. </div><div class="">And I put on black.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The day they started bombing (they, not we</div><div class="">Because we do not have bombs,) I felt</div><div class="">The air being sucked out of me </div><div class="">In great gulps of teal, fuchsia, pained</div><div class="">Shades of purple. I felt the air wheeling over as </div><div class="">I put on black.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The day we started bombing (we because no matter</div><div class="">How I refused, they used my name anyway)</div><div class="">I folded up joy, like a Bedouins tent, bright,</div><div class="">Fringed and billowing and put on black.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Rebecca del Rio </div></body></html>