Of course, we cannot say that Kyle Rittenhouse is guilty.
Because this is America.
And he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
But for what it’s worth, he is White.
And slightly older than my two teen Sons
Who are unarmed,
But who are,
Depending on the viewer,
Dangerously Black.
Kyle is/was 17 when he shot three protestors in August 2020:
one injured, two dead.
Kyle is/was 17.
Growing from boy to man bearing rifle,
Looking to be helpful.
So helpful he traveled from Illinois to Wisconsin to keep the peace
With fire in arms.
His daddy has yet to be publicly identified.
There are no reports that his father’s last name is Zimmerman.
Trayvon was 17 when his breath was forcibly expired.
If he could, Kyle would have flown to Kenosha.
All cherub-faced, green-eyed, and rosy-cheeked.
People are defending him.
I don’t mean lawyers,
I mean actual people.
I am sorry for that
Cheap shot
Cheap shot
Cheap shot.
But there are people who have donated to Kyle’s defense:
Christian people,
Gun rights people,
White rights people.
And it strikes me
That again we’re seeing the Cupidization of another White boy.
They go around shooting
Human beings
Just for daring to be.
Or for fun.
Or sport.
Pictured smiling, laughing, and doing good things
Before or during or after the slaying
To counter the weight of the heavy they just did.
Mounting a pre-defense against the graves others will dig.
It remains to be seen
whether Kyle will be convicted
and/or given a Holy Day.
His mother may wear red in his honor.
Hand out dark chocolate from her porch
to the donors.
Cry poor White tears.
Proclaim it’s an un-American shame
what was done
to her boy.
Poor boy, poor helpful man-child.
Poor rosy-cheeked Kyle.
For more powerful works of poetry by Iye Inaede, check out her new book Thread, Cornrows, Curly Perms, Perms, Braids and Fades, and Locs… …The Hair-ific Evolution Of A Poet. Available on Amazon.
Riverwise would like to humbly apologize for the misspelling of Iye Inaede’s name in issue 18. Her first name was incorrectly printed with an “L” instead of an “I”. We know that proper representation matters and we want to ensure that Iye is given the full acknowledgement she deserves. Forgive us!
