rise above this police state

i have called on police
exactly once in my life
in a moment of desperation

and learned quickly
that it was a wrong
thing to do

it was the
only thing i could
think to do

i was socialized
to turn to the state
in times of crisis

not understanding
how the institution
was not built for me

civics classes did not
teach me about the power
of community

now i see that things
could have gone
so much differently

had i chosen to
reach for closer,
kinder hands

i am angry
at myself
for the disconnect

and angry at
a state which
encourages it

title from woo woo.