Freddie Robinson Jr. Poet Ode

Code Blue

I get a severe case of ghetto epilepsy
when it goes skin dark at night
Get a bad reaction  ...  very violently,
to any rearview flashing lights

Hear the loud siren behind,
see the shiny badges moving towards me
Fear gets cuffed to my mind —  
Being black at night ain’t the color to be

Always ready to recite the blue uniform mantra
from the “Black Survivor Guide” handbook
Smiley face attitude, too often just ain’t enough ...
Racial profile consider this a suspicious look

Flashlight come tapping on the window,
it’s time for a minstrel rehearsal
Give an automatic lip involuntary flow,
just be calm ~ no mood reversal

Keep the eyes down,
keep the voice low
Raise the hands high ... 
do it very, very slow

Speak to the officers respectfully,
say: Sirs, did I do something that was wrong?
If so, I didn’t know ... believe me
Hope their trigger finger ain’t an itchy bone

If sweaty hands get fidgety on the gun 
don’t give ‘em any nervous firing notions
Still in doubt about the final outcome ...
politely repeat those same exact motions

Keep your eyes down,
keep your voice low
Raise your hands high ... 
do it very, very slow

Suddenmovements    will get you shot
by the brave, “Serve and protect”
Resist pleas will buy you a burial plot,
from a coroner’s morgue inquest

I hope you don’t suffer from a bad case
of ghetto epilepsy, my night time skin affliction
Or have a dark mood like my black face
If so, then you can expect a code blue condition

♡Like0

Share 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

Richard Lamoureux April 25, 2018 at 8:13 AM I am wordless Freddie. Beyond exceptional! This should be poem of the year.

Gershon Wolf April 23, 2018 at 9:16 PM Proclaim this up and down and across the length and breadth of this land. Trumpet this in our news and in our social media. A message that needs to be read and re-read, heard and re-heard. So true, so well-put. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! ~ Gershon