Archived Light [The archived light of the man burnt alive has lessened.]

The archived light of the man burnt alive has lessened.
His Black face barely breaks from sepia night.
His name worn from the weathered photograph.

The faces of white men shine brightly,
posing as if for portraits. I count the crowd
by how their straw hats catch the sun.

One man rests his hand on a boy’s shoulder.
Like that boy, I could walk—unmarked
except by blood—into such whiteness.