Day 1: The Swearing In

Hand on a book
he has never read,
he swears to uphold a document
he cannot fathom
except in terms of
the right to shoot his enemies,
or swindle them,
or rape them.

Stand beside him,
hand on whatever book
holds the most meaning for you—
Bible, Koran, Leaves of Grass
—and take your own oath to yourself
and all you hold dear:
I will

–love deeply
–make art
–learn how to take a bullet

for the future.

–January 20th, 2017, Harlem, NY