guilt

i spent the day lamenting the fate of women around the world

trafficked liked objects
ignored like air
raped until ruined
impoverished until hungry
silenced across borders

what a cruel world, i let myself think
don't people see what this discrimination is doing to us?

but when the day was over
and late at night it became
i stood alone on a new haven street
near union station
waiting for my ride back to comfort

i stood scared
because a black man
with baggy pants and a flat brim and overflowing beats from his headphones
was the only other person there

DLS