This World Doesn't Deserve You

In my dream

I was impressed with a child
With potential unfulfilled
Held back by the deadly combination

of his race

and gender

and neighborhood
and a school system that breeds failure

In my dream I wept over him
I wanted so much more

"This world doesn't deserve you"
Was the title of a poem
I spoke over him
In my dream

As I woke up

Those words slipped away

Like dreams often do

But the boy remains

And his brothers

And my grief

This world doesn’t deserve you