Rest In Eternal Peace Baby Boy

The tears fall from my ever-aching broken heart

As I hear the news of another soul who departs

Our Sons are being murdered on the streets

There is no justice, there is no peace

 

That’s my Son with the braids and baggy jeans

With the Jordan’s and the baggy tee

That’s my Son with the headphones and hoody

With the durag and cap, who calls me mommy

 

Prejudged on sight and forever a victim

We try our hardest to prepare and protect them

We give them the talk and make sure they know their rights

Being a black man is a lifelong fight

 

We send them out into the world and we hold our breath

Until they are safely back home we cannot rest

The institutions, the police, the government all play their domineering role

Only for our Son to be taken by one of our own

 

My heart bursts with tears as it ruptures and bleeds

Where did we fail? What did we not teach?

We could not keep you home and be with you all day

For you to grow and become a man we had to step away

 

Taking your life was not a choice for them to make

As parents I do not know how much more we can take

We never want to lose our son to these streets

But the lessons our Son is taught are not the same we all teach

 

The reality of the world is dismal and bleak

Children killing children are not words we should speak

Dying nameless, alone and with none of the comfort that only a parent can bring

Lives are being taken long before their calling

 

My heart breaks for you and for the eternal loss you feel

I wish you could wake up from your nightmare and for none of it to be real

Because when I see your baby and hear people report of ‘another one’

I comprehend the reality whereby that could be my Son

© L. Blair