When I was a kid,
I played tennis. My coach would tell me
“Always keep your eye on what’s coming”
as if I wanted to be hit
by a rogue ball.

I learned as I grew older,
that tennis is a discussion.
The players must contribute equally and play fairly
for a good, long discussion to take place.

But when one side steals the other’s rackets,
the defenseless players can only cower
and run away from the onslaught of fist-sized balls.

No longer can they play,
for they have to defend themselves.
(And the discussion is ended with violence). 

If they played like that on my team,
my coach would have stepped in
and punished the offenders.

For it is never fair
to meet those without weapons,
without rackets,
without defenses,

with senseless, reckless brutality.

Black Lives Matter.