Black Chalk - Edit2

[dukealien]

Black Chalk


In his short life everyone said he'd be a
lovely man if only he'd learn to hold his
anger inside rather than lash out.  But his
homies revered him

for the way he always hit back, resented
words or gestures that he thought disrespected
his mom or the father who never met him.
Now where he lay an

outline of his body in white chalk on the
sidewalk is his monument 'til the rain and
sneakers of his half-brothers rub it out.  Oh!
Why does a black child

get white chalk instead of black, Mama, tell me?
Doesn't it just disrespect him this one last
time, when he can't fight against them or scare them?
Do they still hate him?

No, child, chalk is white the way bone is, and they
use it any time someone's killed.  We each die
wanting not to, even tough boys like him.  Black
chalk would be grave dust.

edit1;

In his short life everyone said he'd be a
lovely man if only he'd learn to hold his
anger inside rather than lash out.  But his
homies revered him

for the way he always resented any
word or gesture that disrespected him, his
mother or the father who never met him.
Now where he lay an

outline of his body in white chalk on the
sidewalk is his monument 'til the rain and
sneakers of his half-brothers rub it out.  Oh!
Why does a black child

get white chalk instead of black, Mama, tell me?
Doesn't it just disrespect him this one last
time, when he can't fight against them or scare them?
Do they still hate him?

No, child, chalk is white the way bone is, and they
use it any time someone's killed.  We each die
wanting not to, even tough boys like him.  Black
chalk is just grave dust.


original;

In his short life everyone said he'd have a
happy one if only he'd learn to hold his
anger inside rather than lash out. But his
homies revered him

for the way he always resented any
word or gesture that disrespected him, his
mother or the father who never met him.
Now where he lay an

outline of his body in white chalk on the
sidewalk is his monument 'til the rain and
sneakers of his half-brothers rub it out. Oh!
Why does a black child

get white chalk instead of black, Mama, tell me?
Doesn't it just disrespect him this one last
time, when he can't fight against them or scare them?
Do they still hate him?

No, child, chalk is white the way bone is, and they
use it any time someone's killed. We all are
equal in death, even rough boys like him. Black
chalk would be ashes.

Sapphic stanzas seemed suitable