Somewhere,
Love is struck down
Not by the weight of riot shields,
clamoring against sudden crowds.
It is beaten down.
Not by nightsticks,
Breaking faces and hearts.
It is suppressed
Not by tons of tanks,
Rolling zipper treads into city streets.
It is laid to rest
Not by assault weapons,
or asphalt used as cover by the dead.
Somewhere
Love is doomed,
Not by secret police,
Putting down conspiracies,
One after another, like cement bags.
Somewhere,
Love is crushed,
Not by buildings falling around
Conscientious objectors.