"Plastic Jesus," by Kaitlin Shetler
what silent night
is given to the children
locked in cages
the ones with empty stomachs
and bulletproof backpacks
and what holiness
is gifted to mothers
fleeing fists
or fathers fearing prison
or people fighting
to be heard
where are the drums
that beat for kids who are queer
the angel songs to
drown out
fear
and where is the star
that leads to safety
because all i see are polluted skies
and shepherds who kill
their sheep
wise men bring gold
and white men covet it
and churches play with
nativities
planning festivities
all while choosing a plastic jesus
over real justice
the night is silent
and so is god
he promised
a sign
and we got sin
he promised us
peace
and we got war
he promised us
hope
and we got the church
how many promises
will you make
o god
before humanity breaks
and how many nights
without sound
before we shout out
and i don’t want silence
anymore
but accountability
and a roar that is
hard to ignore
and safe babies
and safe people
and a place to rest
away from plastic jesuses
and the shepherds who kill their sheep
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