Tag: George Floyd

Darnella Frazier – A Quadrille

Darnella Frazier

Because you bothered
There is a record
The indisputable proof
of what actually occurred
Your fearlessness
and tenacity
in the face of adversity
will be remembered
Without your actions
this nation would never
have known the truth about
George Floyd’s death


We thank you


Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

De Jackson (aka Whinsy Gizmo) is hosting Monday Quadrille
at D'Verse Poets and has prompted us with the word "Bother"
Today, here in the US, the jury will now decide on
the fate of Derek Chauvin who killed George Floyd
before our eyes in May of 2020.  The very brave
Darnella Frazier, who was only 17 at the time, took a video
of the events so we were all able to see what happened.
Thank you Darnella.  You are very brave.

A Quadrille is a poem of exactly 44 words excluding the title.

Now is the Time

Now is the Time

One more
blue-black bruise
on society
One too many
The beast has been
unleashed
Voices heard
Strength in numbers
taking to the streets
Waking the silent
Unmasking the blind
A united voice
heard by deaf ears
Heads previously
buried in the sand
resurrected
A time of change
Power in the hands
of the peaceful oppressed
The dark days
are numbered
One man’s breath
choked from his body
Yet his words 
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
will live in infamy
and be carried
on wings of soaring birds 
His voice stolen
but we speak
for him, for all
Now is the time
 
 
 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

In response to Sue Vincent's Weekly Write/Photo
#Blacklivesmatter

Blood Brothers – A Quadrille

Blood Brothers

My blood is your blood
Our tears flow together
in shared pain
Toiling together
our skin colors blend
in earth shades
from our different birthplaces
My brother
anger rises inside me
for I bear witness
to the last breath
as your life slips away
 
 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

In memory of George Floyd May 25, 2020

Linda from Charmed Chaos is hosting
Monday Quadrille at D'Verse Poets tonight
and has prompted us with the word Slip.

A Quadrille is a poem of exactly 44 words
excluding the title.
 

Taking a Knee – Ironic





Like you I have struggled to find the words to respond to the horror of the murder of George Floyd before my very eyes. A man who allegedly tried to pass a counterfeit $20 bill was immediately regarded as a thief and killed without a trial or a chance to plead his case. Was he a threat to society? Did the police treat him this way for our own good? Absolutely not.

The irony of this story is he was killed by the knee of a policeman. If you remember it was just a few short years ago that quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem in silent protest to the unjustified police killings of African Americans. His action was quickly adopted by many players in the NFL and every Sunday we saw them all taking a knee prior to the game. Kaepernick was promptly fired by the San Francisco 49ers and was ostracized by other teams who regarded him as an unpatriotic troublemaker and he never played in the NFL again. His career was ruined for protesting and highlighting that Black Lives Matter. Instead of acknowledging what he was protesting, his critics were deeply offended by his disregard for the flag and thought that was more egregious. “Taking a Knee” as it was referred to quickly picked up steam and it was adopted by many sports personalities. They became targets of Trump and were treated despicably.

Now a policemen has used his own knee to publicly take the life of an African American. Where is the justice?

Today I am ashamed of America.

Taking a Knee

We watched
as the horror unfolded
He lay helpless on the ground
Hands behind back
Cuffs binding wrists
Immobile 
Yet a knee on the neck
Unnecessary
Arrogance and power
pressing down hard
Choking life from his body

Oh the irony of the knee!

Silent Sunday protests
Peacefully and respectfully
objecting
to police brutality
Taking a knee
Only to be
Criticized
Deviled
Ostracized
Unemployed

and threatened with
silent warnings

You take a knee
and our knee will
Take the breath
from your body

... and they did

Racism lives on
in the USA

Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

Rest In Peace George Floyd, you will never be forgotten
and your death will not be in vain. #blacklivesmatter


Prompts
RDP - For our good
FOWC - Thief

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