Anil Deo Poet Villanelle

For Thomas - Not Jefferson - But Well-Named American Hero

DEDICATED to Justice-Lover, Freedom-writer, THOMAS WELLS:

"OTHER man's ... chokehold" : American cop
Black folk and freedom heroes hit the street
Rage, rage against looting what The Slaves "bought"

Yet by choice, they rose above the slave's lot
But THEY who love cruel lies, love to repeat
"OTHER man's chokehold" : American cop

Good women, my sisters, weep, some abroad
The crime, in Alabama now, repeat!
Rage, rage against looting what The Slaves "bought"

Forgiveness of King ... Mandela, forgot:
Gandhi, India's slaves ... raised your sugars sweet
"OTHER man's ... chokehold" : American cop

Why protect monsters harvested like crop?
Called Officers LANE and CHAUVIN ... repeat
Rage, rage against looting what The Slaves "bought"

Paid again by Martin, more names by lot
Risking disease but grieving in the street
"OTHER man's ... chokehold" : American cop
Rage, rage against looting what The Slaves "bought"

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Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart June 12, 2020 at 7:52 AM Powerful pen my friend! Some Canadian too. Two funerals this week for young women killed in interactions with police. This global reaction, the toppling of statues, all of it bringing me hope. Perhaps, with all of our little lives on hold the pigger picture is being embraced. xomo Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart June 12, 2020 at 9:00 AM I am very hopeful. My Prime Minister boldly contradicted the RCMP Commissioner stating systemic racism exists across the board; and my own Chief of Police is a black man engaged in cleaning up bias practices since he got the job. Anil Deo June 12, 2020 at 8:53 AM Yes, even I - in South Africa, though I worked in the first Mandela Foreign Ministry but not directly with him in the Union Buildings - have kept the FAITH: we must reassure good people of minority races that we want them. If Mandela & S. Africa can do that, what is so hard for well-paid & loved cops in the world to show humanity. thats all. I hope Bard is showing a tiny bit of hope, hallelujah!