Mr. Officer, Man

 

I can’t breathe

 

I…I can’t live without breath

the Gift that God gave Adam

 

I…I…I wish to have air

on which to soar

and space to grow

 

I’ve been given a sentence

thanks to the packaging

which contains lungs, muscles, blood and bones

Not Transparent enough to see that I’m Human

 

Versus creates enemies

destroys lives

Drags down other

bodies in squirming mass

struggling to be heard as equal

Victory is defined in the lesson

Therefore, defeat can hold victory

A loss can teach

A gain can be wrought from the struggle

If time is allowed and the players

are allowed to resonate freely

 

Zack Alexander is a poet and student of the Pacific Northwest who currently attends The Evergreen State College.