Lead

Substance of genocide
The constant threat
We’ve witnessed its damage
We’ve been claimed by it
No matter how cautious we may be 
No matter how fearless 
No matter how hard we try not to be the next victim
It seems to catch us
In one way or the other
Sometimes more than one
On the news  
There are ever more stories
More instances of tragedies
And disasters
It’s gone through the pipes
Into our homes
Through the barrel
Into our bodies  
Through the paint…..
It’s either really in our minds 
Or it’s just heavy in our thoughts 
Either way
Its presence makes us sick
The toxic substance 
We’ve been surrounded with
The medicine you administered 
Side effects:
Damaged brains
A hampered life or maybe just
Death
The special treatment for your undesirables
A harrowing traffic stop
A raid 
A kicked in door
A disregard for life and safety
Guns like needles, injecting it from one system to ours ruthlessly
Carelessly
Fearfully
You’re used to using abusing your authority to get it in easily
Getting us while we’re unaware 
Disregarding all possible measures to prevent
Just doing what’s quick
Hiding tracks afterwards
And as bad as you are about it
We’d be “crazy”
We’d be called “monsters”
If one of us turned the table
If one of us said “Enough”
And took a stand
Ready to give you taste of your own toxin

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