Lexicon of Solace
They say it now
hoodie
or not
Black Arabic Native Latino White and on and on…
“Trayvon”
On streets
In deserts
The rez
up the holler
when patrolled by cops
or armed “citizens”
bumping one another
in school
or corporate
hallways
After panicking
and
running anyway.
Arms held out
hands empty
dropping to their knees
cowering on discovery
in caves
behind cliffs
underneath floor mats
in huts
“Trayvon!”
they shout
hoping to be alive
moments later.
“Trayvon”
they murmur absently
late for meeting
late to class
bumping arms
shoulders
jostling
distracted
averting a blow up
with loved ones
a colleague
a stranger.
Signaling
no harm
just me
being me
in my regular day
on point in my daily routine
Oops
Sorry
No need to escalate
Simply
passing by
focused on what
makes me happy
I have to do
relieves my boredom
calls to me to get accomplished
“Trayvon”.
Some girls even
start to say it
rolling back from
a viciousness
they do not probe.
Hard, glittering
eyes
giving way
to
flipped hands
and walks
in
opposite directions.
Easy
Easy
Take it
Easy.
A remembrance
A caution
An action.
A confession of grief
Regretting the need
to pledge
Innocence from
intent to harm
destroy
demean
derail.
“Trayvon”.
by Venita Kelley   3/26/2012