The Poetry Of J.F Seary: Love Letter
This poem is part of a special presentation of The Poetry of Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. If you are interested in seeing the entire collection of poetry submitted by this organization, click here.
Love Letter
Dear Erica,
See, I had to write you this love letter
Because at the time I knew that
Speaking to you, in the moment
Would not have been the most
Effective way for me to share my point-of-view
See as I sat at my desk and listened
to you
Discuss Chris Brown’s recent arrest
For assaulting Rihanna my heart
Began to pace uncontrollably
“She probably came out her face,”
you said
“She pushed him to the limit,”
you said
“Some girls get hit,” you said
And as you giggled and laughed
I knew that a move on my part
Could have only resulted in
Me coming out of my skin and
Be forced to break on you
I sat back as your friends joined in
“Well guys beat on girls and girls
beat on guys,” they said
“That’s just how it is today,”
they said
“I know if a guy hits me, I’m hittin’
him back,” she said
“Uh, I don’t hit girls… but if
she come out her face,” he said
I knew that a move on my part
Could have only resulted in
Me coming out of my skin and
Be forced to break on you
I listened as your teacher tried to
convey
to you another view
“you old school miss,” you said
“things ain’t like that no more,”
you said
“I know a girl that doesn’t come
to school
when she gets
hit,” you said
I knew that a move on my part
Could have only resulted in
Me coming out of my skin and
Be forced to break on you
So I took a step forward
And I took a step back
As visions of blackened and bloody
faces
Memories of hiding in closets, hands
covering ears
Swirled inside my mind
I realized that I love you
I realized I had to love you
And confront the violence that you
Have grown so comfortable with
So I write you this letter, not in
anger
But in love
Because our sisters need to be loved
And our brothers need to be loved
And our children must be taught
That violence will no longer be spelled
L-O-V-E
