Jun 26
Her and Roe
prose
HEROES
splayed in all CAPS vertically
each letter atop the next
on the plastic cup
I got to keep.
Sitting in a joint
that had its walls littered
with militaristic memorabilia
had me wondering
what heroes are.
What is war? And how is it fought?
The narrative American society
regurgitates over and over is that
men fought overseas to protect our right to freedom
but what of women’s freedoms, the freedoms of nonbinary persons; Black folks; Brown folks; queer and transgender folks; folks living with a disability in America?
When are we free? When is our war won?
Free from harassment, prejudice, bias, discrimination;
Free from abuse, assault, manipulation;
Free from harm, suffering, risk, policy, and control.
Our government is plagued with ignorance and greed.
The only thing politicians are aware of is who they need to rape, pillage, and destroy to stay at the top, and to keep their income flowing.
It’s time for our country’s narrative of heroes to be updated because you cannot have heroes without her and “Roe.”
