All mothers were summoned when George Floyd called out “Momma”
–BLM protest sign, June 2020

I cannot fathom
the heartache of black mothers,
and my heart breaks for them
as I stand for them
with my gut burning,
my body ready
to defend my protesting daughters
against spit and curses and threats of violence 
from armed spectator “patriots”
lining our courthouse square.
I cannot fathom
the heartache of black mothers,
but I know the fierceness with which all mothers love.