Who could imagine living like this?

restricted travel
mandated social distancing

isolation every day
separation from loved ones

ongoing fear of danger
potential harm   death

stepping away for safety
avoidance behavior as prevention

limited gatherings   public spaces
disrupted jobs   education

loss grief uncertainty
underlying depression

mind-numbing numbers
disease   deaths

            no, not just COVID
            
daily life for Black Americans
400 years of Black history

           after one pandemic year
           fatigued mindbodyspirit

           a constant drip of fear
           worry   vigilance

           only one year

try 400 years
of all the above

white walls prisons poverty
cold solid blocks

generations of pale hands
pressing down down

a living terror of random 
harassment   violence   murder

400 years living like this
imagine that