the verdict

so much worse
than the immediate
pain and shock

is that there is
a part of me
that is not
surprised

that there is
a part of me
that felt this coming
with dread

a part of me
that knew that
there is little
justice reserved
for young black boys
in this country

but i clung anyway
to hope
that a court would
come to the defense
of a sixteen year old child
walking home with
iced tea and skittles

instead
the dead boy
was put
on trial

and hordes jumped
to defend the man
who killed him

the verdict:
we cannot trust
the police
the court
the system
the country
to value a black child’s life
over a white man’s fear