Abby Ahmad

Yellow tape
Yellow belly
You fled the scene of the crime
While the blood was still warm

Narrow escape
With hands unsteady
Trigger-finger
On the pulse of the problem

My protest was peaceful
But you were hot
Silenced me with a single shot

You’re slipping out the back door
Running
Placing fault on circumstance
You claim freedom
Well, who could blame you?

Faster than your feet could fly
Redder than your reason why
You were certain
I could not contain you

You’ve been going out of your mind
I’ve been going out on the picket line
Guess I saw something there
Worth fighting for

To you it was all metaphor
What I do it for
Reason I’m so sore
(Just another tale to tell)

Get myself up in arms
Sounding false alarms
To keep myself from harm
(Write a story that will sell)

I have tried my best
To rest
To let this thing fly
Take comfort in the peace
That time will bring
But something leaves me hollow
On the inside
Leaves me questioning...

You’ve been going out of your mind
I’ve been going out on the picket line
Guess I saw something there
Worth fighting for

Leave me with my rage
After all, it’s just
Words on a page
Lines on a stage