names rolling around like
marbles on my tongue
there's no Q for queer in
my phone directory, no V for
this violence or that violence
is a threat to her to his to their
safety. are they alive are they
alive are they alive are they alive
are they alive.
mapping out constellations
of who to text who to call who
to write who to scour social
media to determine last known
point of communication. I
never predicted a square
image with white block letters
would be a love language. are
they alive are they alive are
they alive are they alive
are they alive.
since 1982, the majority of
mass shooters are white. the
majority of mass shooters are men.
we talk about generational trauma
but what of generational spiritual
desperation? what of those who
are taught violence and hate as
"culture" or "religion" or "politics?"
what of all the times when we
see the signs and choose to
say nothing. if death is the
outcome, and death is the risk
are we alive.
