the darkest girl in the world

the darkest girl in the world

sits in the heart of america

her fingers curl around her small legs

as she rocks back and forth in front of the t.v.

and she, like the smallest part of the world,

watches america become crowded

with black and brown bodies

lifeless, and asking for help beyond the grave

too many crying eyes in hospitals

as skulls bust from rubber bullets

broken backs from batons

and shattered legs

from police cars

a face is still burning from pepper spray,

and she is on fire

her arms sweating profusely, she says

“the world is on fire, and i am burning with it.”

glass shatters. the rioting continues

each mask of each person says “i can’t breathe,”

and soon she feels the shortness of breath

the exact same feeling

that led to George Floyd’s death

she says his name twice

and holds onto her chest

and all of her shakes

as rivers of red

stream down

her small head

and this is what crying feels like

her skin flakes away

and collapses

into piles of dust

her flesh is pure magma

wild and enraged

her ribs crackle

between bouquets

of flames

and this is all but the hurt that we feel,

and the hate that you give

the rage of black americans,

who pray

to live

the darkest girl in the world

sits in the heart of america

and burns alive