Jason Ybarra’s most recent poem to appear here was “Business Casual” (April 2020)
Which Knee?
By Jason Ybarra
Which knee angers you?
Which knee keeps you up at night?
The knee pressed into the ground
to elevate,
or
the knee pressed into a neck,
to suffocate?
Which knee angers you?
Which knee will cause you to speak?
The knee that promotes
humanity,
or
the knee that commits
atrocities?
Which knee angers you?
Which knee is a threat to you?
The knee that demands accountability,
or
the tool used in brutality?
Which knee angers you?
Which knee will cause you to act?
Powerful. All I have done is cry. Wake up America!
This is so moving; my heart is heavy with respect for how you stated the obvious so neatly, so tersely. Honestly, they both keep me up at night because both require our attention.