Training Day

Because I am
white
male
and middle-aged,
I'm center stage
in terms of
risky demographics
for suicide

And because I have had
close contact with others
loved ones and
clients
who have died by their own
hand,
we multiply that risk times
eight

Algorithms

The instructor
was talking about black
males and their
comparatively low
suicide rate
asking if any of us (all white)
had any theories about that

We were too frightened to offer any
so he told us that a black man
in a past class
spoke up and said

Because we strong.

Right on.