We Will Rest Not, George Floyd

Brazen with whiteness
four toads
exerted presence
cuffed and killed a man

“I can’t breathe.”

On the front lawn
of America
stripped of empathy
the leader knelt

Not in prayer –
reverence burns his lips –
he knelt with authority
or his version, venomous

Three looked on
ignored pleas
gloated in the horror
of life’s final gasp

Humanity’s blood
now cold
unleashing a scream
a primal, reptilian rage

The offspring
of oppression
and hate
uncoiling

Like snakes
nest disturbed
rising against injustice
burning down the walls

As The Man weaves
his tale of dissonance
casting lines of division
few listen..

Black Lives Matter
drowns the rhetoric
the breakthrough is complete
we can no longer look away.

(For George Floyd and all the others murdered senselessly at the hands of those commissioned to protect.  Submitted to Reena’s Exploration challenge: breakthrough.  Image my own.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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VJ

Permission to write, paint, and imagine are the gifts I gave myself when chronic illness hit - a fair exchange: being for doing. Relevance is an attitude. Humour essential.

37 thoughts on “We Will Rest Not, George Floyd”

  2. Pingback: Reena’s Exploration Challenge #145 – Reena Saxena

  3. Of course, many watching that video felt like bystanders, and many of us would have spoken up, had we been there. Your words take us right into that moment, as well. Well done, V.J.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Powerful piece VJ. I loved it. We all need to continue to write about this. Knowledge is also power and we have a lot of complacency out there. Time to get the outrage in front of those people. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Powerful! You’ve captured the outrage in the country. And the sadness too, that there are still those among us who use their authority to kill. Black lives matter!

    Liked by 1 person

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