Cry of Freedom

Cry of Freedom

Breauna Gibbons

08/14/2020

Anger

How many times must I be oppressed?

I gaze upon my computer screen.
Knowing all sets of eyes: innocent or not—
questioning the calamities outside these walls.
The flood is about the begin, and we are not ready.

My mind takes a whirl spin—
I can hardly suck in oxygen for the brain,
wanting to disengage from this blood scene.
I cannot!

There is no redemption left in the states.
If anything, this proves…
what faith we have in America—
now lost.

Why do people of color have to die for no reason at all?

No matter the pigmentation of the skin.
From the darkest chocolate—
to the lightest cotton ball.
Every shade deserves worth and prosperity.

Why can we not get along?

We all bleed the warm, metallic crimson that keeps us subsisting
Do we not?


There is a pivoting sensation,
inside my chest that seems
to be melting away,
against my ribcage and crumbling my heart.

Could this possibly be…
No. This must be an illusion or a mistake,
yet, this is the reality of living in a democracy.
I try to stop my mind from frazzling; it would not stop.

What could this be?

Murder.
Lynching.
Death.
Silence.

Fire in my brain—
gasoline in my veins.
Where my blood should be
but sadly, it is bitter and hot.

I will be haunted—always
—by those words,
“I can’t breathe!”
I stare onto the computer screen, as the black concrete absorbs a man’s soul.



Right now, I cannot feel
any breath coming from my nose—
escaping from my lips.
The ringing drum in my ears circulates to calmness.

In this paradox,
my heart thunders in my chest.
I touch the flesh in my palms,
the irritating marks of my nails leave punctures.

My eyes flood rivers of frustration
That makes my cheeks sting and wet.
Evading all emotion—
my mind is potent now: nothing can soothe the obsessive whispers of turning off the news.


Paralyzed on the couch
my hand on my mouth—
my throat constrains
the bile from running out.

Acquainted once again,
with these frigid bumps piercing my skin—
makes all the hairs on my neck stand still..
The waves of vertigo expand from beneath my feet.

What the hell did we all witness?



Watching what was supposed to save us…
keep us safe from the brutalities of harm,
and cherish us with security—
take a person of my complexion’s life!

I will not ever erase what atrocity
just unfold before me.
The same fate—
over and over again.

Do you not see it?

The country has had enough!
Anarchy snatches away the purity of the states,
the darkness swallows the stars—
into an apocalyptic hell.

What is left for the courageous people fighting?
—to keep this now forsaken country free?

Burning buildings,
congregations screaming,
it is as if the devil is stalking us—
like prey.

I recall shock as an old friend.
Feeling these hallow questions in my mind
of not being heard—
or cared for:

Is it my gender?
My race?
My nationality?
My character?

It is because I am a female
born with cocoa brown skin,
that I grow to love every day.
While an injustice system continues to hate and deny my human rights.

This catastrophe continues placing its storm in front of me,
time and time again.
I roar to the heavens so that God can hear me,
I know he can.

We weep for another fallen soul
that is brutally flying away,
has caused a colossal volcano to erupt.
We are all battling to stay conscious.

Weeping for the unnecessary bloodshed,
weeping for another minority who lost their civil rights.
Weeping for the corruption that is spreading throughout our Nation,
weeping for another innocent life taken by the hands of power.

How many more times do we have to see that our lives matter?



Well, they do not!
Our lives will not matter until we howl in victory.
When the world sees our pain, they comfort us in tenderness.
While this munity brings change, allow us to feel, the jamming rage.

How many times do I have to be afraid?

When I leave my house, I go to class.
I want to go to the convenience store because I have a sweet tooth.
I am going to the park to play whenever I find my NERF gun.
When I am driving in my car, I see the infamous red and blue lights.

Wondering, will I make it back home?

Pondering if a cop is going to show up—
just because I am black,
and shoot me for that reason.
Oh, wait! I am a female as well.

Then if I am not wearing the right clothing—
I may be violated.
Nevertheless, do you not know this happens to guys too?
My knees convulse and hands quiver to pray in the church—

Or just show my faith without me dying in vain.
All the church wants is unity,
worship should represent peace and growth.
Not merciless hands putting innocent souls into urns and under gravestones.


Love sees no color or orientation.
If I hold someone’s hand,
either the same or different texture
of skin and gender…

Are you going to beat and kill me?

Race crimes happening against
Minority groups for no reason at all!
However, we are the ones who perish
in the acts of animosity.

I do not need your shame,
your pity or excuses.
I want change—
in peace, righteousness, mercy, and grace.

I do not want a kiss or
a cuddle—
nothing, not even an embrace…
like I said before, I want change, and I want it now.

The less comfort I have,
the more I read.
I see the carnage,
pouring into the streets—like the Red Sea.




I want peace, but there is no peace.
I want justice, but there is only injustice.
We are all a bunch of animals attacking one another.
In the end, we all need each other.

The “us vs them”
mentality, never addressing the unsettling statements
of prejudice and illiberality.
In one tragic question:

Why do this fear and hatred exist?

I think back to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—
and his glorious dream that he had for us all.
In order to guarantee an American Dream,
for those who wish to claim it.

Did all his work prevail…
or is it all in vain?

The adversary against everyone that stops in our path.
We are advancing for war and tranquility,
I look at my television screen.
I see the immense hurt from the rejection of the past.

Why, Why, why can we not be free?




I wish there were a revolution.
I wish people could be together,
especially in the children’s eyes.
They are surviving in a country that is now against their kind.

What did Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. die for?
—Or was his death futile?

Fasten not to the atrocity,
that works outside our doors.
However, to love in humility,
to love in kindness,

To boast in joy and harmony—
bonding us together.
No matter what the world says,
know yourself.

Instead of judging a person on the hue,
of their skin and background.
I want to feel the heavenly warmth and drink the ocean sky—
that is where freedom thrives.

The grass needs the sun,
And the moon needs the sea.
Everyone together in solidarity—
we all need air to breathe.



We need to come together, but that will not happen.
We are all on different roads leading on the same path.
We have various journeys and venturous trials.
We must discover our values and imperfect smiles.



We are all playing tug of war—the rope is breaking.
Instead, we keep each other in the mud and not help each other up,
in this vicious circle called life.
Yet, I wish we had more time being alive.

I wish we had more freedom,
instead of staying inside.
I wish for more love for strangers,
even our enemies who choose to hate us.

We need to have more compassion,
to help those that need it the most.
Also, protecting the innocent who cannot defend themselves.
However, this is just my imagination…

Laid out on the field of an invisible playground.
I see nothing but crimson—
causing the compulsion of war, confusion, and grief.
This onslaught kills me as I struggle to allow my heart—




to unwind these feelings.
However, I will not allow the craziness of this broken country
to destroy my flourishing dreams—
and America’s pride.

My heart’s ultimate wish is
that everyone is equal, cherished dearly—and
judged by the actions of their character.
In everlasting peace.

How many times must we wait for equality?