Protesting

They shot a boy the other day
not far from where I live
killed him in cold blood
they wonder what he feared
they say his hands were in the air
reaching for the sky
but that never stopped the policeman 
from making his bullets fly
seven shots rang out 
then there was a pause
and two more shot were made
as if there were not any laws
I went to the neighborhood
just a short walk away
and I joined all the protesters
while the world watched and weighed
some were looking for attention
from the whole wide world 
and did I forget to mention
the want to be Martins and Malcolm's
opportunist who've waited all their lives
for that white man to kill that poor black boy
but join the people, I must
follow their parade, I must
play the role, I must
because it matters
we marched and so did the white opportunist
who were there enjoying the cameras
one has to wonder how many Martins and Malcolm's
were there really?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 5/22/2016 10:47:00 PM
This was at Mike Browns murder. I had no ideal it would have grown this large.
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Date: 12/17/2015 4:12:00 AM
lines with curves of wisdom and landscapes of awe! My mind is in a park of joy to how I manage selecting this page. Keep on writing dear poet and as always, a wonderful 7 without a doubt!
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Date: 10/16/2014 7:35:00 AM
I live nearby too. The police could have stopped him without killing I believe, but I suspect...something scared the officer to make him react like that. I respect the family's protesting... But not the looters and violence mongers... You wrote the situation perfectly. And over amounts of violence need to be addressed on both sides. A great and thoughtful write.
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Date: 8/15/2014 3:52:00 PM
Dear John, What a powerful poem! This shooting has been a headline in the news for days and I hope justice is served. My heart goes out to the parents of the boy. I'm glad you have shown them your support. Bless you, dear friend. Love, Carolyn
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Date: 8/15/2014 1:13:00 AM
glad you marched. This is unbelievable , and to think he just kept shooting and shooting. WHAT THE HECK????? You have every right to feel indignant and to want justice. I pray it will be done.
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Date: 8/14/2014 9:50:00 PM
Good for you for being there in protest. A needless loss of life, through injustice, is not something that can be ignored. :( So much loss of life where I live....Daily happenings...We live in a crazy world.
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Date: 8/14/2014 9:15:00 PM
I heard of this John, and it angers me... I can't believe the cops at times. Sometimes, they are the worst of what they do... It does matter.... Glad I stopped by, to see how you are... This tells me a lot... LINDA
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Date: 8/14/2014 6:56:00 PM
You were brave to march, what surprises me is that people are surprised, it has been this way for as long as I've been alive, the children who died at Kent state were even white, power corrupts, guns kill, those who are willing to kill have guns Light & Love
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Date: 8/14/2014 5:16:00 PM
Only God knows our motivation..Most times we ourselves really don't know our motivations..Good work about the situation and your participation in the march..Thanks for stopping by..Sara
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Kendrick Avatar
Sara Kendrick
Date: 8/14/2014 5:51:00 PM
Just saw a news cast from there..Not good ...Sara
Date: 8/14/2014 4:30:00 PM
you've impressed me
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