How Long Are Eight Minutes

How long are eight minutes it's centuries-old rusted chains clamped to throats whips burn-in flesh criss-cross scars Bodies tossed overboard spoiled cargo sold commodities left hanging on trees fresh scents for the dogs to chase Bones of the dead buried beneath slave walls after crows have plucked out their eyes The death of eight hundred thousand the price of the word freedom whispered in the North never spoken in the South left to vanish in blood-soaked battlegrounds Spit on, beaten, go away no votes allowed not this water fountain not this restaurant not this seat How long are eight minutes long enough to end injustice long enough to break the racial divide long enough for a brave heart to have acted long enough a cruel heart grew in its cruelty long enough not to breathe long enough to murder, unconcerned long enough for understanding to be born long enough to finally be heard 6/7/20 inspired by Richard's contest not for contest