"An Objection"

When I’m told to
keep the politics out of education

I wonder: Who will
  keep the blood from dissolving the lungs?
  pick the shrapnel from the exit wound?
  pluck the bullets out of gray matter?
  make the campus free-range?
  keep the pledge optional?
  design the classroom spacious enough for light to flourish?
  deliver the breakfast hot and healthy?
  keep the lunch free and reduced?
  buy the 3D printer and the easels?
  edit the African “workers”
Jefferson wall
paper pages out of textbooks?
  make the minimum wage a living one?
  fund the food stamps instead of the missiles?
  keep the Brown above board?
  repay the debt to the broken side of town?
  keep the parents on the clock?
  write the preferred pronouns on the paperwork?
  stop the badge from becoming weapon?
  keep the handcuffs from kissing six-year-old wrists?
  run the pipelines out of business?
  teach the quarterback’s hands the meaning of no?
  provide the condoms
tampons
curriculum
water for budding saplings?
  untie the needle from stepdad’s arm?
  buy the chemotherapy for David’s mother?
block the uncle from Hannah’s bedroom?
cut the noose from Jadin’s neck?
erase the gun from Nikolas’ hands?
from Jeronimo’s holster?
from the recruiter’s brochure?
  keep the question
voice
defiance from being swallowed?

After all: Who can
keep the architects from robbing the house they built?

PoetryAndrew JohnsonApril 4, 2018An Objection, poetry, poem, NaPoWriMoComment