It takes its strength from the pain of names expressed across the wall slats
It takes its pride from shaming expats
It takes its beauty from the earth and ocean blue 
Posing as a natural barrier and warning that a fence exists in waves below
It takes its riches from confining opportunity for poor
It takes its sleep from dreams untold
Those that sit in reflective angst of what could unfold
It takes its connection from human bond
Like the couple communicating across gate cuffs
It takes its vision from creative artists like Enrique Chiu
It takes its knowledge from concealment of advocate exposés of truths
It takes its jurisdiction from demobilizing you
It takes its energy from first gen youth
It takes its legitimacy from told political hyperbole and lies
It affirms its presence when snapped as a backdrop for your timeline
It takes its culture from immigrant and transnational lives on flight
It reasserts itself when society tries to fight
Letting us gamble when you risk your life
Then threatens the house always wins despite our tries
Dismantling its power is the uprize!
J. Mar
JMar 