Square Watermelon

Square Watermelon was born out of the tension I’ve seen far too often in nonprofit spaces, especially among leaders who say they want justice but settle for comfort. This poem uses the image of a boxed-in watermelon to explore what happens when we try to force something naturally wild, messy, and freeing into neat, polite shapes. It reflects my frustration with organizations that talk about equity while practicing equality, that write land acknowledgements without acknowledging harm, and that shrink from the “political” conversations justice requires. This piece is my reminder that real justice is unruly, disruptive, and alive—and it cannot be trimmed into perfect cubes.

She is meant to be wild and irregular
Round, Oblong
Flat and Yellow on the side that doesn’t see the sun.
As big as the soil that feeds her will let her get.

Instead you put her in a box
Limit her growth to neat and tidy perimeters
Cut her flesh into perfect cubes

Don’t cut a wedge
Don’t dive in face first 
Don’t let her juice drip down your chin
No messiness here
No freedom either
Justice can’t be square.