Tired 2021: A Poem

Tired, 2021

I’m tired

Tired of the one bad apple rhetoric

Tired of waiting for a change systemic

Tired of of screaming they just don’t get it

Tired of knowing they actually do

And just don’t care so the system keeps going

Tired of feeling compelled to write these kind of poems

Tired of being given the opportunity

The subject matter

That we still don’t matter

That reaction to non-threatening activity can be fatal

That no matter how respectful we can be

We are disrespected

No matter how peaceful we try to be

There is no peace

No matter how we try to go on with our lives

Authorities want to see us dead

Even if it’s not intentional

The potential is present

When you present a fatal tool

When the police use weapons instead of words

Intimidation instead of negotiation

Threats instead of vetting conversations

Shooting instead of sharing a moment of understanding

And this ends with us no longer standing

Laying in a pool of our own life essence

Our life’s presence fading away

Flowing into the gutter they say we come from

Like melted butter pooling at the bottom of the bucket

When they choose to pop caps over kernels of compassion

Assaulting us with a hail of gunshot

Whether we are armed or not

And it seems, more than often, to lean towards the not

When your cell phone can get you shot

Your wallet can get you shot

Your cigarette can get you shot

Your registration can get you shot

You air freshener can get you shot

Your keys can get you shot

Walking around in your own house can get you shot

Sleeping in your own bed can get you shot

Sleeping

In your own bed

And thanks to a broken system

You wake up dead

When you were just looking to wake up

Tired

Also by Big Sexy:

BLACK LIVES MATTER: Black Trauma – A Poem

Domesticated: A Poem

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR

Big Sexy was born James R. White in Rialto, CA. He received his BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in acting from CSU, San Bernardino. He has worked with Second City, The Groundlings and IO Comedy Sports. He has performed in a variety of shows and musicals including "Keep Hedz Ringin" (A Hip Hop Opera), "The Rocky Horror Show", "Othello", "Hamlet: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince of Denmark", and "The Last Emancipation". In 2009 Big Sexy relocated to Las Vegas. He began hosting with Karate Karaoke and rejoined the improv community, performing with The Lost Episodes, heavy involvement in the All You Can Improv Jam and S.E.T. which were weekly improv shows where he performed with his troupes Big Fun, The Lumberjacks, Phil 'N Sexy and Words With Frienemies. He was a cast member of FREE BEER! The Improv Show, Evil Dead The Musical, The Aussie Improv Comedy Explosion at the V Theater, Alibi The Show. Big Sexy is currently the School Program Director for the Shakespeare Institute of Nevada. He volunteers as an Improv coach at Mojave High School and works with Drama Kids International. Constantly writing he is now writing his first musical "Reservate This!'

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