This poem was written in response to the prompt:

Poetry Prompts for current day: Begin with the line: “I carry my country in my throat.” Let the poem speak in accent, memory, and defiance.

I carry my country in my throat
As tears slip past my lids
Each sob a sour note
I cannot speak
For the sins of my ancestors
Left my lineage looking bleak
Chains from past atrocities
Weighing down my feet
If I’m honest
I should be Americas pride
Brown, Black, & White
Choosing no side
I’m the hodgepodge of the melting pot
I’m the masters whip
I’m the slaves that were caught
I’m the feathers that stereotyped
My great grandmothers tongues
My country a noose
As I step off that last rung
“America The Beautiful”
Last song that we sung