The prison he calls home
His mind was an abyss
Of emotions
And endless questions
Of the world around him
He wasn't much of a speaker
But he was definitely a thinker
His mind was a safe place
Where he could speak freely
Without being harmed
He hated the outside world
He was scared if he stepped outside
He was afraid the racists might strike
So instead he would hide
In the comfort of the inside
He focused on his survival
And to him that meant control
Even if his mental health took a toll
This fear for a black person was normal
Living life shouldn't be a struggle
But he wasn't even safe in his home
In his dreams his fears wouldn't leave him alone
And when he woke up he was haunted by the nightmares he had come to known
He was also scared to leave his family alone
He was extremely afraid of the unknown
Which led to his need for control
This is what the system does
It instills fear in us
Until our minds have turned to the darkness
And their hatred consumes us
Until we are a shell of what was
And that is one of the ways they kill us
Copyright © Layla Riley-Hill | Year Posted 2025
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