The PoeTry oF JusTIce Don't Say A Word: The poetry of justice by Jenuine Poetess don't tell me to quiet down because the sound of truth makes you uncomfortable rocks your foundation allows doubt to trickle in making you question everything you thought you knew don't tell me to lighten up not be so sensitive not take everything so personally because this is personal it is me balling hands into fists purging tears coaxing myself back from the edge of the hell you created it is me picking up the pieces of what you shattered it is we working to change what has always been so this next generation of babies can survive their adolescence without being beaten or shot or twisted into darkness by those protecting and serving only themselves so this next generation of babies can survive their adolescence without being shamed or abused or therapized for being a radiant rainbow of identities don't tell me to smile 'cause: I'd be a whole lot prettier, baby because when I do when I let my joy shine some see it as an invitation as consent as their cue to take 10 Baptist Peacemaker jul-sep 2017 and to rape because they were taught always to prey they were indoctrinated to expect compliance because they were trained that nobody tells them no don't tell me not to get so involved because the political is personal when the agony of being present being vulnerable being conscious rips through me I don't just imagine I feel it we are all connected when another is hurting my tears are flowing I didn't ask, to be an empath don't tell me it was just a joke because I used to have the quickest wit the sharpest blade of a tongue I know what kind of truth lurks behind every sarcastic remark and laughing barb that what we tear down most ferociously in others is the very thing within ourselves that we hate most don't tell me to just get over it that, "boys will be boys" "that's just how men are" "that's just how the world is" 'cause I refuse to believe we're all that helpless that powerless to become unblind uncalloused