Mariella Mendoza

If you call me
Queer or Fag

If you call me
And do call me
But would you call the cops on me?
Would you see me as a threat
If I walked down your neighborhood

And who were you to decide how the rest of the world
Would react to my body, to my skin, to my voice,

And they call us all out, only to call us all in

Telling me

I’m fragile, protect me.

When did I have that choice?

When we marched in that hotel, and they grabbed us, and held us, and the fear in their eyes said that my body and my voice was more precious than their anger, when you looked into my eyes.

You looked into my eyes.

You looked into my eyes.

And you said “run”

I keep thinking of that night, and of the other night, and of the other night, and of the hurt that overtakes me every time they arrest one of us, and my mama is so scared, and I lie and tell her there’s nothing to fear, but the truth is Mami, they don’t need to lock us up.

We’re already chained up.
We’re already locked up.

My dreams were always tragic.
My legs are always running.
My mind is always screaming.

Fuck the borders, in Palestine, in everywhere,

The political correctness of it all tells me to be more inclusive,
Well, fuck inclusive
Fuck safe spaces

You promised us safety
then you invited ICE
You promised us safety
then you invited zionists
You promised us safety
then you called the cops
You promised accountability
I don’t see no apologies.

How ridiculous to be running from the cops
just two floors up from a workshop about
P O L I C E B R U T A L I T Y

Bang Bang
is not a metaphor
you gave us condoms
you talk about gayness
like it’s a joke, a game
another night, another day

which it is, we have fun
but truth is, we’re dying.

Truth is,
more than
planning a family
more than testing
my safety
I’d like
to plan for a world
in which families
can be safe.

Truth is
you can call me out
you can let me go
you can let me in

But, would you call the cops on me?