this is for the untold thousands
those the color of the color of the earth
free our hearts
and our silence will speak louder
than the voices strangled today
we crept along the ridge
our fear sang to the stars
but we didn’t heed it
the thicket scarred our face
with streams of green blades
spare me I’m choking
living over the line but dying to return
parched skin sailing a raft of bone
the craft lists
human cargo
swallowed whole
all we have is our hands
to raise your kids
to clean your houses
to sow your fields
and to feed your mouths.