Melissa McEwen

Mom Waiting for the Bus on the Corner of Pavillion and Main

Though her insides are cotton

soft like the summer dress she’s wearing

she can’t be all-the-way tender or all-the-way happy

because her babies were born black and male, with skin

soft like the summer dress she’s wearing.

She knows the world won’t see them, love them like she does

because her babies were born black and male with skin

people will always see first.  Black before human.

She knows the world won’t see them, love them like she does.

She knows the outcome:

people will always see first---- black before human.

She prays hard and turns down the sound when the news is on.

She knows the outcome.

She’s tired of hearing that another black boy was shot.

She prays hard and turns down the sound when the news is on.

Her friend just told her a boy was shot on Bedford.

She’s tired of hearing that another black boy was shot

by police or in a drive-by or stabbed over something stupid.

Her friend just told her a boy was shot on Bedford.

It’s no wonder why she’s mad. Black boys are shot

by police or in a drive-by or stabbed over something stupid.

She can’t be all-the-way tender or all-the-way happy.

It’s no wonder why she’s mad (black boys are shot)

though her insides are cotton.