—Samuel Little

“African-American, Native American and Alaska Native women die of pregnancy-related causes at a rate about three times higher than those of white women, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.”

—Roni Caryn Rabin

The New York Times

“I shout down sirens

They bring no safety”

—Danez Smith

His name is smallness / his deeds /

small.

He hungered / feasted

silence / screams

we hear it, though

a subaltern

echo /

yelping / of dogs / of men / the man / and flame / and belts

unbuckling / shame / and prayer / and breath /

and hair /

and churches /

and shrapnel / bricks / over fountains /

counters / and sitting / a waiting /

a wet / the crimson / the soil / the lash / the bracing

the warm / the opening / the eyes / the release

we are still /

we are memory

we are silent chorus

we are still. we are still

smaller /

93 plus— / pre world / no armor / no more /

we are our unborn / we are /

our

we are us / we are directing / out /

it’s our emergency, only

our

exit /

our mercy