Innocence

I am at the heart of a raging debate.

Is the death penalty humane?

What crimes should warrant capital punishment?

Me, my opinion is lost.

Blown to the wind.

But here's what I think

About "justice:"

Rape is worthy of the death penalty.

It is an unforgivable crime.

I'd rather be murdered than raped.

And that's just the truth.

But then there comes a complexity

About how capital punishment favors the rich and white.

I say the death penalty is great,

But the racism and sexism and judgement

Needs to change

Before I can feel safe

In my skin.

Because no one cares about innocence

Anymore.

No one cares what you didn't do.

They care about

y o u r s k i n

y o u r c l o t h e s

y o u r s e x u a l i t y

y o u r p a s t

y o u r f i n a n c i a l s t a n d i n g

They don't care

About innocence.

They care

About penance.

Penance for someone else's deeds.

How to get away with murder:

Be white, be rich, be charismatic,

and the law can't touch you.

You've bought a restraining order on justice.

So here we are.

Stuck chasing after the wrong person

because the right white man

Couldn't possibly

Be evil....

No one cares

About Innocence.