Villainhelle
A villanelle for Breonna Taylor
By David Mills
A black woman's body was never hers alone.
—Fannie Lou Hamer
Not knock. Who`s there? Battering ram.
Shattering who while firing blindly ::as justice:: through clutched curtains and buttoned blinds?
Some black women’s bodies are ambulances their spirits are driven into.
(With all disrespects to the what “ìs”
and its “ought tos”)
it’s been said Kentucky’s grass dons uniforms blinkered and moody blue.
Breonna’s demise: a couple of itches after the witching hour sanctioned by March’s ides.
No knock. Who’s there? Executed warrant. Executing who?
Unchided for months, Bre’s story barely nibbled by the news (all due disrespects to the “ìs” and the “ought tos”)
but by George ::Floyd:: Bre went from mum’s the meme to shuteye-and-die bull’s-eye.
Sister girl’s body a shapely ambulance her spirit was thrust into.
Sleep should be a sneeze no more lethal than the gospel of achoo (with all due disrespects to the what “ìs” and the what “ought tos”).
Unmarked, plainclothed: grievously intrudes that unlicensed night.
Not knock. Who’s there? Battering ram.
Shattering who?
White cops. twenty shots. Riddle me this:: Blackman:: riddling you: (with all due disrespects
to the “ìs” and the “ought tos”) why is the ebony XX struck from a head’s lines
so many NY Times?
Breonna’s body: impromptu ambulance
her spirit had been Louisvilled into.
She, EMT, trained to buoy life not to be coded blue.
white pillow. white case. white sheet. stretcher:: terrestrial ladle for the celestial light.
No knock. Who`s there? Executed warrant. Executing who?
Some black women’s bodies are ambulances
spirits are duped into--
with all paid last respects and deepest condolences to “what “ìs” and what “ought to.”
A villanelle for Breonna Taylor
By David Mills
A black woman's body was never hers alone.
—Fannie Lou Hamer
Not knock. Who`s there? Battering ram.
Shattering who while firing blindly ::as justice:: through clutched curtains and buttoned blinds?
Some black women’s bodies are ambulances their spirits are driven into.
(With all disrespects to the what “ìs”
and its “ought tos”)
it’s been said Kentucky’s grass dons uniforms blinkered and moody blue.
Breonna’s demise: a couple of itches after the witching hour sanctioned by March’s ides.
No knock. Who’s there? Executed warrant. Executing who?
Unchided for months, Bre’s story barely nibbled by the news (all due disrespects to the “ìs” and the “ought tos”)
but by George ::Floyd:: Bre went from mum’s the meme to shuteye-and-die bull’s-eye.
Sister girl’s body a shapely ambulance her spirit was thrust into.
Sleep should be a sneeze no more lethal than the gospel of achoo (with all due disrespects to the what “ìs” and the what “ought tos”).
Unmarked, plainclothed: grievously intrudes that unlicensed night.
Not knock. Who’s there? Battering ram.
Shattering who?
White cops. twenty shots. Riddle me this:: Blackman:: riddling you: (with all due disrespects
to the “ìs” and the “ought tos”) why is the ebony XX struck from a head’s lines
so many NY Times?
Breonna’s body: impromptu ambulance
her spirit had been Louisvilled into.
She, EMT, trained to buoy life not to be coded blue.
white pillow. white case. white sheet. stretcher:: terrestrial ladle for the celestial light.
No knock. Who`s there? Executed warrant. Executing who?
Some black women’s bodies are ambulances
spirits are duped into--
with all paid last respects and deepest condolences to “what “ìs” and what “ought to.”
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