Riot

By Tracy K. Smith

We live—
We live—
in my city and yours
and on far shores
nationless
We live—

We live—
standing risen
on solid authority
in the light
and not quietly
We live—

morning sun
We live—
evening come
We live—
generations hence
We live—

We live—
deep color
our heart leaps
We live—
over and again
our heart leaps

We live—
gold hot bright
the line of us
never tiring
We live—
We live—

Tracy K. Smith, “Riot” from Such Color: New and Selected Poems. Copyright © 2021 by Tracy K. Smith. Reprinted with the permission of The Permissions Company, LLC on behalf of Graywolf Press, Minneapolis, MN, graywolfpress.org.