Twelve Years A Slave

a two and a half hour sobbing
scream for mercy that doesn’t come

even with a happy ending, it doesn’t.
trapped in history, squeaking folding seats
uncomfortable people.

pain, over and over

flirting with the line--artistic flaw
punishing us for things we didn’t do
but continue to live with. 

I’m not the one still suffering.

but I am the one asking myself
what I would have done:
I know the answer.

I would have batted my fan 
and gone back into the house.

in my head I speak truth and live with open hands 
in my heart I just want to be okay

and that’s why I squirmed
that’s why we all squirmed

watching a history that was, and could be
again if we forget stripe-crossed backs--

stripes 
answered only by stripes

stripes thank God.

no.

thank God.



~Ruthie