Standby (White Noise)

You're afraid to speak his name
Or to ever let your veil be lifted
Your whiteness witnessed the piglets snarl
And run down all the witnesses
You sprayed the pale grey sidewalk
After they cleared off the statistics
His blood's still in your mouth
From all the rubber you've been licking

Don't say you didn't hear the news
Cause every nose can smell smoke
Don't say you didn't breathe in deeply
While you stood flat-footed and watched him choke
You keep saying you understand the pain
The ink blots on the names they'll never explain
Watch them stitch their flags and stars and participation medals
Onto the collars that hold their rusty rabid dog chains

So while the investigation delays
And they take their sweet time getting their stories straight
And you have your stupid little parades
Where you bow down and you give them thanks
And you thank White Jesus for keeping you safe
Cause they don't shoot you in the back when you run away
Like target practice on a sunny day
On a body without a face

You're afraid to speak his name
Or to ever let your veil be lifted
Your whiteness witnessed the piglets snarl
And run down all the witnesses
You sprayed the pale grey sidewalk
After they cleared off the statistics
His blood's still in your mouth
From all the rubber you've been licking