Judging the Fire After It’s Out

Yo. You keep saying choice like the clock ever froze, like the road

didn't bend, like collapse had a code. Like refill the form,

took an arm to stay calm 'fore it kicked in the door. Rearranged every room.

I didn't take, I redirected impact. I didn't lie, I delayed the crack.

Call it mercy if you need a dress light. Call it survival if you live

that night. You talk like you were there, you weren't in the frame.

You arrived when the blood stopped, spelling our names. With vocabulary polished, conclusions intact.

History's brave when it's done bleeding out to do both. Breathe in,