Juliette Pangilinan | On 07, Jan 2020

Put your hands up,

Mommy needs to help you put on your shirt.

Put your hands up,

Simon says so.

Put your hands up,

This is your favorite summer jam.

Put your hands up,

The teacher won’t let you answer unless you do so.

Put your hands up,

You need to stretch from sitting all day.

Put your hands up,

Mommy instructs.

Put your hands up,

Especially if they stop you.

Put your hands up,

To show you have no weapons.

Put your hands up,

Even though you know you didn’t do anything wrong.

Put your hands up,

State your name and your age.

Put your hands up,

But never run.

Put your hands up,

Your mother begged.

So why didn’t it work? Why do you still have more bullet wounds than the years you lived? Why were you still pinned to the ground? Why didn’t they let you breathe? Why didn’t you make it home?

Didn’t you put your hands up?