and when they surround you
shepherd you towards a place
you can’t all escape from
pen you in
shields and batons and smirks
sly words to goad you into affray
sling you up before the judge
saying
he was violent, yer honour
he struck me first
just remember, you have the high ground
share the water you’ve packed
just for this scenario. share
the snacks, the granola bars, the raisins
they can’t hold you forever. hold the hands
of those around you. hold
the hearts of those around you,
keep your spirits up
keep your face covered
your phone off, they can track your sim
make sure that your loved ones know where you are
carry the number of a friendly solicitor
link arms. stop them taking the people
don’t let them put them
in that van. there’s more of us than them
there always is.
Jem Henderson
Bio: Jem Henderson (they/them) is a poet from Yorkshire. Their work focuses on the body, motherhood, food, queerness and on triumph over trauma, playing with both traditional forms and experimental poetry. an othered mother, their first solo work, is out with Nine Pens Press.A new collaborative pamphlet, Motherflux, out in May 2024, again with Nine Pens Press.
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