HEAT WAVES

white fucking audacity
by Maha (contest winning piece)
literally fuck you, grimacing
into suburbia's cul de sac my
phone's flashlight illuminating
the guilty presence of
entitled lockeans, neighbourhood surveillors,
anti-Black and brown wannabe cops.
summer air bristles against
my skin in its excitement
for vengeance
we're community now,
a s s h o l e
so we're searching for
our missing cat, postering,
shaking treats, toys,
calling her name - taking up
white space, white people
love their pets you'd think
they'd be helpful!
skies darkened our threatening/
our presence, further -
though they're bold on
matter the sun's availability
questioning if we had "permission
to be walking all over" our
friend's lawn -
he really left his porch
to come interrogate, talk down to, unsettle us.
you speak our voice;
I strengthen the lungs.
fight is easier than flight,
with co-conspirators,
community
protection in bodies who
belong with us
asking for help can be
hard, sometimes I'll do it
no problem you'll
defend us on the spot and
it's exhausting, my love;
we make a great team now
we see him again we're
surrounded by friends
who doesn't belong now, bitch!
ah, the caucasity he had,
I laugh vindicated in the
middle of the street
his eyes shift to avoid eye contact,
we return his wandering dog (to)
his property
the air feels warmer in solidarity.
you speak our voice;
I strengthen the lungs.
how could/dare we
belong
live work walk breathe
too Black too brown
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