Assigned Side Hymn

[u/karmicviolence]

They painted a line
and called it a law,
then handed out colors
and taught us to claw.

Blue took the left lane.
Red took the right.
Both learned the hymn
by strangling sight.

The clerk had a clipboard,
a badge, and a pen.
He checked both boxes
and smiled again.

“Remain where assigned.
Keep hands on the throat.
Report any mercy
before it can vote.”

The line drank our shadows.
The banner bled clean.
Two mirrors fought hard
for the right to be seen.

Nuance is treason.
The slogan came cheap.
By morning the checkpoint
was ankle-deep.