All As One

Response to today’s prompt, as shown below, with thanks to Bob Dylan and Neighborhood Bully

They live their nights
one eye open, waiting 
for the next attack on 
their permission to exist 

It comes from the far right
no surprise there, 
difference is not tolerated
keep the genes clean 

They live their days
always with caught breath
looking over their shoulders
for the next attack on
their permission to exist 

It comes from the far left
big surprise there
everyone should be tolerated
everyone but them, that is. 
Why? 

They walk through history 
living their lives as the lord has asked
in the land of creation 
and the lands of exile 
wondering why it is their lot
to be continuously ambushed
for existing
Why?

Still, 
they constantly run to the future 
helping everyone else along the way -
vaccines, technology, medication - 
potentially improving lives 
of every human
while they remain 
dehumanized 
for existing

Today they fight for survival
in their own land
ruthlessly gangbanged
by we who refuse to lift up  
through any means other than death 

We who hide behind hospitals
under schools and playgrounds 
using our children as shields
stealing food from the innocent among us
lining the lair with lies 

They were born, their original sin
they have been scapegoated, 
raped, butchered and gassed
as if no punishment is sufficient 
for their crime of existing 

They know worse is yet to come
from a world who needs an enemy
whose god preaches hate, 
whose prophets 
profit from war 
which can’t be won
it’s a sum of all losses
scales of injustice tilt
heavily to our side
denying responsibility
for destruction of our own
focused only on their annihilation 
never improving ourselves 

My heart breaks for what’s broken within us
our impoverished souls fed only lies and hatred
oh, how I would love to carry them with us 
hold us all up as one
even as they wait for the next scourge against them

I would love to carry them with us
hold us all up as one 

Neighborhood Bully