Withstand

Withstand

You scoff at me, I shy away, ashamed

The force in your words makes me crumple up

“Listen to my horrid pain!” I complained

Yet you turn away, drinking wine by cup

“You are dark” they chant drunkenly instead

“Nothing! Dirt beneath our glorious feet!”

They jeer in hordes, stumbling, pale, dead

Glaring with hateful zest your ‘brows, they meet

Not a slave but not free as you promised

Give me the right to be human again

Give what we yearn, for we are coalesced

We shall not fight with violence but with pen

Let us be treated as one in this land

For then can we stay strong, and all withstand