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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

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