i am learning

Photo by Danny Lines

i am more afraid

of the people in my own

backyard than any

of you who deserve 

to unleash your rage on my

lifelong privilege.

i am more afraid 

of ignorance fueled by fear

turned to a hate that

seems to know no bounds,

willingness to see a man

as less than human. 

i am more afraid

of who i could have become

had i not opened 

my eyes to the truth 

all around, to the pain and 

beauty of this world.

i am learning to

be less afraid of dying 

at the hands of hate 

than of speaking out

after far too long of a 

complicit silence.

if you enjoyed reading this poem, please consider supporting my work by becoming a Patron. thank you!