Fainting Goat

No one died

right?

I wasn't affected

but I am affected.

I know them

their situation

we're good friends

but why is all of this happening in my lifetime?

In our lifetimes?

The trees 

lightly dance in the 

 cold 

winter air, 

the birds sing a song 

like a choir the sound 

echoes on tops of hills 

enlightening the day,

Sat down drew

on a piece of paper

the land

we knew.

Sat down drew

lines between

us

----

them

it's a squiggle here

decided,

the river's clear

ly a bound

For every woman being raped.

For every trans made illegal.

For every Native forced out of their home.

For every black person called “lesser.”

I'm sorry 

I'm sorry for what 

My country is doing 

For what we seem to think 

Is OK   

I'm sorry for how 

My president is acting 

I catch a glimpse. 

from afar, 

the shine of his silky hair in the golden sunlight

his expression unreadable, 

as if he's pondering something he'd never tell a soul.