black kids born with peppered eyes
and backbones built by sturdy pole
have time-bomb brains that tick to lies
all spat from alabaster guys
with snaky tongues and hearts of coal

black kids have to pinch their lips
forced to fear who fears them most
crushed beneath the thing that grips
the cattle prod the cracking whips
the grotesque gun the badge of boast

and so black kids are found in piles
just thrown about and out the way
such melting hearts such fractured smiles
such folded hands and absent trials
such futures darkened by the day