circumference

death suffering threats of loss
painful shredding of dignity violence
ignorant money-centered health care
capitalistic framing of illness
drug-induced silencing of those in fear
of losing control over their lives
and all of a sudden
cant swallow cannot be comfortable
just surviving becomes infinitely
more relevant than battling white racism
and black internalized racism
and this is exactly how / why
those struggling against oppression
stop
because sometimes
life requires us to be present and a full-time
battling of belittling systems also
requires 150% presence.