Those You Cannot Burn

Remember how you once burnt us? 

Well here we still are

The descendants

And this time we will write our history.

Is that why you are scared of us?

You must be terrified otherwise you would not

Beat us.

Violate us.

Demean us.

Subjectify us.

All so we know the place you want for us.

But that isn't ‘our place’. 

You don’t get to choose where we belong,

You get to support us to go where we want. 

And if you don’t?

Well then you have to move. 

Your organisations have to be dismantled 

Internally.

Externally.

There is no place for you.

This time we will control the narrative

.Report our history whilst it happens.

We will write.

 Photograph.

Record.

Tweet.

Share.

We will Sing.

Perform.

Dance.

Your treatment of us will not be authored by the elite,

Illustrated on an illuminated manuscript

Written by Holy Orders blaming us for your sins.

We will not keep silent about you.

You who were meant to protect us

You who allowed us to be beaten by your servants

While we stood and lit candles for one who was ripped from her family

 Murdered by one given the honoured position to preserve her.

But we are still here

Those you haven’t yet burned.

We will tell future generations how you oppressed

Left us looking from our windows while our only hope

 Was unity and you tried your damndest to dismantle that.

Well you tried.

Remember how you once burnt us? 

Well here we still are

The descendants

And this time we will write our history.

A.Smith March 26th ‘21