“The Silencer”

I was told I can’t show this skateboard in a public art space

In a major AZ city due to its gun imagery.

Put me “in my place”

Yet I can watch cowboys killing Indians all day on TCM

Scorcese’s gangsters are considered high art

Coppola’s Godfather is a family man.

Tonto is a racist stereotype resurrected for pompous greed.

White House Down is an action “shoot -em-up”

Channing Tatum sanitized violence for the masses

And Trayvon may he rest in peace but not defeat

They put him in a place, he could never return from

Because of a gun

Many of us are free, its America after all.

However I can’t show my side of history

I’ve know the price now of silence, know the cost

Machine Gun Kelly is baseball. Al Capone is apple pie

Get a slice of freedom where it suits you best

You won’t ever silence the love for my people

Deep in my chest.