day ONE THOUSAND and TWENTY FIVE

Terrorists Outside the Gate

The bent cross we bear
born in a deadly time
born to die

some fly high
but we all die

what is behind the wall
inside the lies they tell

if water dies
we will all die

the walls hide the lies they tell

the language wall they live so well

the gate
locked tight
give me the key

the vote
yes, give me the vote

No?
you say no,
no?
where do you hide
behind that wall

or off to the ball game
          when there is so much to do

when we need
public water
                 public police
                         public schools

Terrorists Infiltrate behind the gate
infiltrate those who hide

don’t stand starving outside
                                 without a key

the wall hides the lies

everyone wants to kill you
kill me

we all pay
for the hunger
we will pay

--Julene T. Weaver

Julene Tripp Weaver is a psychotherapist and writer in Seattle. She has a chapbook and two full size poetry books. Her most recent, truth be bold—Serenading Life & Death in the Age of AIDS, was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, and won the Bisexual Book Award (2017). Her work is widely published in journals and anthologies. Find her online at www.julenetrippweaver.com & @trippweavepoet