Beating, stomping, roaring

Echoed through le jardin and up

No moment void of this enormous sound

No silence

Tear gas crashing, exploding

Settling in thick clouds over

These people

These people who would not retreat

They danced harder

Beat their rock against the metal divider harder

For they were too strong and too kind to shut up

They were going to be heard

Gas them all you want

You sick, warped bastards

On a small side street

Leading up the hill

The men, helmeted

Masked, shielded, padded

Stood across from side to side

Feet planted

Are you empty

Are you real

Protestors stood in front of them

Staring inches away

Holding up two fingers in sign of peace

Peace

Are you hollow

Protestors sang and danced

Ten or twenty, not one aggressor

On this small side street

The men fired tear gas

At these peaceful people

Some fled in fear

Some stayed in the suffocation

It stung their skin

Burned and scratched their throats and lungs

Blinded them

Some stood

Hands over eyes

A circle of girls sank to the cool pavement

Unable to hide from the gas which sank too

They sang holding hands in a circle

On the ground

While the tear gas erupted

Like fire works

On the fourth of July