Not the Bullet

The first line in this poem is from Elizabeth Acevedo’s poem “Iron”. I also based the entire poem on that very line, though, my poem does not follow the same story as “Iron”.

And although I am a poet, I am not the bullet;

I will not lead the uprising into freedom,

Nor will I be the cause of death.

I will just write what I see, what I feel.

It’s not my fault

if someone takes up weapons

In my name.

It’s not my fault

if someone starts asking questions

saying that they aren’t being treated right.

My writings just place ideas

in the mind of the audience,

nothing more,

nothing less.

It’s not my fault if they act on it.