Excerpt from Butterfly, Fly! (set to release late-2021)

In the midst of a global pandemic, the slogan, “we’re in this together” became the tagline uniting all of humanity. It seemed that tagline might actually supersede any divisive act from history’s past that sought to divide and conquer. In the face of an unprecedented pandemic, in the midst of being “… in this together”, police misconduct towards people of color continued to thrive. This piece was birthed as I sat reflecting on police misconduct towards people of color.

“This Gum”

I chew, I pop, I think

I chew, I think

I chew

I chew

I breathe

I must remember to breathe

These stories keep surfacing

I can feel her plight

I envision her passion

I chew, I pop, I think

I chew, I think

I chew

I chew

I breathe

I keep forgetting to breathe

Keep hearing “I can’t breathe” echoing in my subconscious

What is air?

What is breath to the Black man (woman) in America?

What is the flavor of this gum?

I’ve literally exhausted all of its substance

These moments seem to drain and exhaust our substance

I chew

I chew

I cry

I chew…fighting back the tears

I cry,

I chew, I cry

I can’t recall the rhythm of my breath

Or the thud of my heart

My heart!!!?

What is the condition of my heart!!!?

I can’t breathe!

Yet again.

Breath gone from her lungs, a misunderstanding

Relationships broken

He said, she said

She will never be able to share her story, her plight, her passion

A hurting soul unable to be rehabilitated

The masses inundated with sorrow, with grief

The division, the tension rises

I chew,

I chew,

I chew,

I think,

I cry,

I breathe

God, enlighten the masses to live with purpose

While we all still breathe

Why do we all still breathe?

Endow us with hope

Empower us to take notes from history and her-story

Please endow this Earth with vision, with wisdom, with peace, with faith

I chew until this gum has lost its purpose

I cry,

I cry,

I cry,

I dry my eyes

I pray

I chew,

I think

I breathe

I think I need a new piece of gum

Butterfly, Fly! by Angela Brooks is a transparent book of poetry that touches on racial trauma, compromised mental health, hope, and spirituality.