Brionne Janae

THE WICKEDNESS OF GOD

and when they were enslaved he meant to step in  raise

hell fire   smite   and plague but then lifting his fist  

he heard them    cries that hooked something

he hadn’t felt till then   or if he had felt   had tried

not to feel   to deny   as humans deny themselves

thinking it will make them good—but

having no need for goodness   he just

stood there   tightening his fist so that the nails

spoke crescents into his palms  

while the music took him    you think

he hated negroes   but I swear he favors them

hated the brutality really   closed his eyes

so he wouldn’t have to see it happen   same way he did

when they were dragging his son bloody   onto the cross

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