I am umbrage
The shattered
Molotov scent of singed hair
The regenerative
black body politic
To become whole like a lizard
able to regrow something lost
but seething the wish to
kill with a thought
Because every press conference
after a policeman murders
an unarmed black man
is justified as business as usual
A repetition
by rote
police chief’s soundbite A faulty heart
trying to rebuild consequence
as an anomaly The bad apple
in-house reviewed to
an isolated incident The still-ongoing
investigation . . ,
a thug sighting
person of interest
or alleged criminal activity
Is a shut &
closed door
The sound of those denied entry
still running for their lives
ahead of a roar.
henry 7. reneau, jr. writes words in fire to wake the world ablaze: free verse that breaks a rule every day, illuminated by his affinity for disobedience, a phoenix-red & gold immolation that blazes from his heart, like a chambered bullet exploding through cause to implement effect. He is the author of the poetry collection, freedomland blues (Transcendent Zero Press) and the e-chapbook, physiography of the fittest (Kind of a Hurricane Press), now available from their respective publishers. Additionally, he has self-published a chapbook entitled 13hirteen Levels of Resistance, and is currently working on a book of connected short stories. His work was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by LAROLA.
–Art by Marina Ćorić
