Mother, O Mother

Mother, O Mother
Where is the nurture of the lioness?
The protection like the mother bear?
Where is the light in the darkness?
The shade of the ancient tree?
 
Mother, O Mother
I am haunted by their eyes
His eyes: as the fire engulfed my head
Her eyes: 'We’ll call you'
His eyes: as I stared down the barrel
Once. Twice. Thrice. Four
 
Mother, O Mother
The repressed self-hate as he
Pressed against me, 
My hair in his balled fist
My blood upon his member
Once. Twice. Thrice. A dozen times
 
The splashes of fire in the darkness of a club
The hate spewed from the mouths of ignorance
The sign of the cross as she crosses your path
The denial of access to safe bath and rest
 
Mother, O Mother
Where are the equal eyes?
The embrace of fellow humans?
Where is the equality?
The value of fellow life?
 
Where is the erasure
Of the eyes of hate
The memories emblazoned
The fuel of ignorance?
Mother, O Mother Earth
Help me, Help us
My imploration of love