MARCH 2022 ISSUE: “RELIGION” BY MYRA ESTRADA

RELIGION
by Myra Estrada
2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate

i'm in need of a reason to believe that there's hope for the world
to believe that

petty

fallacies

commentary

and performary

political warfare between lifeless bodies dressed in all black attire won't be the death of me

optimism is a privilege that i no longer rightfully obtain
optimism is equivalent to happiness but i can no longer stay sane depending on the bad guys to
loot me in and colonize my brain

and still i cling on to my frayed cross in hopes of guidance
in hopes that walking amongst the aftermath of
colonization
has a purpose
in hopes my existence
has a purpose
how do i find it?

America is no longer calling out to us as the land of the free
i’d like to believe there's more for us out there beyond the polluted skies and littered streets
but there's just too many manufactured bodies playing puppet
unnotified of when he decides to pull the last string

he always has the last laugh

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Myra considers herself an activist and utilizes her political poetry as a way to expand her knowledge and express her beliefs. She believes her poetry offers a connection between her and others through rhythm, prosody, and vocalization. Myra is the 2021 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate.