I Don’t Want
(6/4/20)
I don’t want to see
black men fall
beneath the knees
of indifference.
I want to see
a country rise up
and make this land
live up
to its promises,
and face up
to its illusions.
I don’t want to see
authority kneel
on black necks,
or a proud flag
flying wounded
over patriots
of hate.
I want to see
teachers teaching
the dark side
of our past
along with the light,
planting viral
knowledge
to bludgeon
the ignorant lies.
I don’t want to see
blue going deaf
and blind
and secret when
“I can’t breathe”.
I want training
that’s deeper
than weaponry,
service that’s rife
with compassion,
morality not quick
to the trigger,
and ideals
that are rising
from understanding,
not taking their pride
from gunnery.
I don’t want to see
tear gas turned on
the desperate,
I want to see
lawyers turned on
the oppressive.
I want to see
a country rise up
and teach itself
to hear the hard word,
to walk the hard way,
to do the hard work,
to step on the hard path
to better and blessing,
not the easy
slide down
to hate and to hell.
