Monday, March 19, 2012

Poem for Trayvon Martin

(1995-2012)
















In America, you see, there is nothing
that we lack. We work, we rise;
we are all free. Kick your heels up!

Paint the town! unless you happen to be black—
in which case, better quiet down
and be prepared to show your hands.

You can buy Skittles and iced tea,
walk freely through the neighborhoods—
unless you happen to be black,

in which case, some puffed-up quack
can put a bullet in your chest
and leave you—seventeen, facedown,

dying in manicured green grass
he did not like you walking on
because you happened to be black,

young, and male within a gated town
that wasn’t.
                   When you get up
to Heaven’s gate, and get to thinking,

gazing down, about the country
you just left, whether it was bad or good,
I tell you, Trayvon: Ask around.

See if those who claim it’s good
and died peaceful in their beds at night
mostly happen to be white,

and those who turn away, distraught,
who strain their eyes down through the cloud
scanning for safety still unfound,

happen to be brown and black.
And if you see that other fresh-faced kid
who had a sweet tooth like your own,

and sauntered jaunty into town?
Ask Emmett what his Money bought.
It was not a graduation gown.














4 comments:

  1. Love this....brought tears to my eyes!!!! Thsi was a recommended read from a common friend we have Ms Judy in France!! Thanks for writing such a profound poem!!!!

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  2. Thank you for dropping by and for the kind comment. Let's hope that justice is served in this case.

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  3. i was inspired to write a poem as well


    for Trayvon Martin


    A black teen murdered
    I apologize for not being there
    with a loaded gun in my hands
    Although you may think no one heard you
    I heard you and hear you loud and clear
    Crying out for help
    Your last words
    HELP! HELP!

    We are vulnerable
    My heart goes out to your mother
    Tears can’t explain
    My heart goes out to your father
    and family
    What can I do to make this end?
    Maybe what we haven’t done
    The means justifies the end
    In this land
    My heart goes out to all the people
    You will never know that care for you
    That fights for you everyday

    Your death will not be in vain
    If I were there
    If we were there
    If your mother was there
    We would have done something
    I would have done something
    I still want to do something
    I have to do something
    Your death will not
    Die in vain; it will be in our pain
    Our strength, our cause, in our names
    We will not stand for this any longer

    No black child is safe
    If we send no message
    Are we that soft?
    I ponder with concern
    Hours have gone by
    Little brother,
    Whatever your Wishes
    This has come to an end
    You are not the only one
    Who has died or will die
    This is war my little friend
    Where black women cry
    And black men die
    It has been this way
    For a while now

    You are part of the reminder
    One that reignites the souls of black folk
    And I wonder
    Did you ever know Malcolm X?
    He died like you
    From a bullet
    Contemplating
    By racist hands
    Racist systems
    And racist plans

    He only wanted skittles and tea
    I like skittles too Tray and sweet tea
    Yet we die because we refuse to kill
    How does that make you feel?
    Angry or scared
    Others have died as well
    How does that make you feel?
    Angry or scared?
    I feel anger nothing more

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  4. Thank you for the comment and for your poem. It's really a terrible case and I can't imagine how scared this poor kid would have been, and how devastated his family must be. I am glad to see so many people moved to speak out about it, but just hope that we won't have continued incidents like this that require it!

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