American Rainbow

Black lives matter
in different ways 
to different people
in the American rainbow
especially bus companies
that bounce over potholes
in the big cities of America.
For them money matters.

If blacks stop riding buses
the buses will be empty  
except for other poor folk
white, red, yellow, brown
who don’t drive cars 
but are too few to keep 
the buses bouncing.

Everyone will understand 
that black lives matter when  
everyone understands
that black money matters
not to blacks alone but 
to all stripes in the 
American rainbow. 


Donal Mahoney
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Pigeon Tart Avatar
April 18, 2017 at 2:59 PM
Wow Donal, you have outdone yourself with this one, sharp wit and a sharper reality put together with excellent poetic language, nice one! 7 :) xomo
Pigeon Tart Avatar
April 18, 2017 at 3:48 PM
Life is an intrinsic issue for us human beings, I believe all other creatures would manage without issue without us. It blows my mind how cruel our species can be. We're not so far apart you and me, racism cuts my heart asunder too. I hope you find hope again. Take care, Maureen.
Mahoney Avatar
April 18, 2017 at 3:04 PM
Maureen, You've been kind enough to read my stuff and likely know by now I'm conservative on life issues when it comes to abortions, euthanasia and executions. For me all life matters. But racism in America is full blown, worse than I was a white case worker in Chicago in Cabrini Green Housing Project with 458 black families. Things are much worse now. The Kennedys and MLK were live then and we had hope. I have no sense of hope now when it comes to race, a little hope when it comes to life issues.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace