One Last Time

Scholastics Arts and Writing Award ( Honorable Mention )

One last time.
One last time,
may I walk downtown,
watch rain clouds,
drown the sky,
among hidden stars,
and the sun.
Just one last time.

One last time
may I see
skin color - and race,
not speak,
louder than actions.

One last time,
may I see the charred - dark sky,
fade into silver light,
as the angels above,
have mercy upon my soul.
Just one last time.

One last time,
may I feel God’s breath,
stroke my face,
rain tumbles,
across a road
only led by wind.
Just one last time.

One last time,
may I walk,
through barren quicksand,
where panic,
leads to my death.
Just one last time.

One last time,
may I sail a boat,
across a sea of ignorance,
and possible hope.
may I see the blank space of blue,
stare into my hopeless eyes.
Feeding on my anxiety,
and frustration.
Just one last time.

One last time,
may I hear the world,
judge my skin.
may I plea to god,
“Make the world change”.
Just one last time.

One last time,
may I hear people call,
“Are you okay?”
“Stop choking him!”
“Don’t kill that man!”

One last time.

When?
when will,
people’s hearts,
and mindless souls,
respond to our black voices?

One last time,
may I watch my children,
leap into my arms.

When,
when will they live,
in the land of free.
When will,
kids of all races,
sing the anthem,
true.

For the first time.