“…sometimes it’s necessary to see a [person] bleeding after having been punched to feel some kind of impact.”
Melania Geymonat

1
they just wanted
to ride the bus
home.
but they wanted
to make it there
safely.
they wanted to
sit in their silence-
stew in their love-
savor their moment-
live unafraid.
all they wanted,
they wanted without
the jeers
and the taunts
and the blood on their face.
they just
wanted
a kiss.

2
we are not
your entertainment.
and we are not
your daily
hate crime.
the closet is
too small now.
keep your pissy
promenade
of arrows.
we will not
be afraid.