Taking in the headlines

The black letters drip into the white spaces
turning grey

so that it is almost impossible to decide anything
to jump off the fence

they hail Unilever but what is a pledge
to women with hair that frightens white men

what is any union if
counties will become toilets

what is an end to this pandemic
when two million families are destitute

the grey descends like mist
it is the space between things

that is why they call it grey matter
that is why we see everything upside down

and we cower under grey clouds heavy with hate
fleeing for cover

and shake our heads, thinking, but

is grey not simply

black

  and

     white?