Delilah Ventura Poet Free verse

I Can'T Breathe

I can’t breathe……..
Get your knees off my bondage……..

For bondage was kidnapped from Africa.
Forcing me into slavery
My flexibility was not tobacco, rice, or cotton.

I can’t breathe ……..
Get your knees off my enslavement……..

Opportunity for food or good health was put to death
Reading and writing
Poison and slaughter

I can’t breathe ……..
Get your knees off my rope…….

For each step, I made branded me
Each air I took imprison my soul

I can’t breathe…….
Get your knees off my whip…….

For I weep the scars you gave me
I weep the  blisters in slaves

I can’t breathe…….
Get your knees off my freedom…….

Labor was the Mississippi River
Ignorance of the gun filled the water

I can’t breathe…….
Get your knees off my legs…….

Under these chains execute my pride has a human race
Who do you blame?

I can’t breathe…….
Take your knees off my tears…….

For why does my name matter?
When N is already tattoo in your brain

I can’t breathe…….
I say
I can’t breathe…….
O~

How many minutes will you give me to live?
If~
I’m already dead

O~
I couldn’t breathe…….
Your knee was on my neck……..

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John Watt June 15, 2020 at 11:16 PM Delilah, you have spoken eloquently and grippingly of the injustices and cruelties of the past and present. May there be many who hear this message and act so that the future will be one of true equality. Delilah Ventura June 16, 2020 at 10:03 AM Thank you ....for many need to hear these words and unite...

Richard Lamoureux June 14, 2020 at 11:28 AM You expressed yourself well. Thanks for entering my contest. Congrats and blessings. Delilah Ventura June 16, 2020 at 10:03 AM Thanku very much ...I njoyed working on it