after Ella Baker & Glenn Lignon
layered in black on black on white canvas
we who believe in freedom cannot rest
looking at the way we look looking forward
stepping back by way of upturned neck by way
of three steps back looking black coded by way
of black modes by way of reconstruction by way
of insurrection by way of colored fountains by way
of elected democrats or elected aristocrats
it is obvious we are a presence
though we have been discomforted
at school gates at rental offices at museum entrances
even we cannot rest who believe in freedom
we are to some an irritant an ire some tire some lot
we do not subscribe just because something comes
out of a leader’s mouth out of the mouth of a tyrant
so we are too difficult we are much too difficult
we are much too aware we are much too marked
we are all that matter to us that matter
we are the most comforting presence by way of
nod by way of pound by way of sup
we are always fashionable when we do not try
we do not try to insult except when we do
but we do not hesitate to speak of the things
about which we agree or disagree we participate
at the level of our thinking by way of our thinking
by way of our mass expression
we who believe in freedom cannot rest
where once hundreds & even thousands of we
ordinary people had taken a position—that made us—
very uncomfortable when we decided for instance
to walk rather than take the bus
from You Don’t Have to Go to Mars for LoveFind more by Yona Harvey at the library
Copyright © 2020 Yona Harvey
Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Four Way Books.