The war comes quiet
undeclared, unresolved
a door creaks open inch by inch
Your neighbor shouts a slur at you
in broad daylight
streaming to his followers
A woman is beaten for speaking
the wrong language
The police protect the assailants
Cars burn outside the detention center
the police stop bothering
with "less-lethal"
"Give me your phone "
"I'm a reporter"
"I don't care"
The video stops abruptly on a
gloved hand
Militias patrol gated neighborhoods
ready for combat with outsider kids
Trans book clubs become
trans rifle clubs
they practice with intent
Aunties who remember
or remember what their aunties
told them
tell their babies it's okay
to shoot if you have to
Pastors trade forgiveness for vengeance
Jesus becomes The Punisher
You walk down the street
eyeing everyone for signs
of friend or foe
you're ready
if they start something
Not all at once
not quickly
The door is creaking
I don't know yet
If we will pass through