UNBELIEVABLE

Like many of you, what happened to George Floyd affected me in a dramatic way. I know similar events have happened before, I’m sad to say, but to see it from start to finish on my TV tore at my heart.  That this still occurs in our world, a world that almost two hundred years ago freed the slaves, hasn't advanced, but more importantly, seeing someone no, not just someone, a “civil servant,” blantantly feeling justified in taking the life of another human being, no, committing murder, on-camera was beyond words.  The poem that follows is my attempt.

DESPICABLE

By Pat Severin

I think that it’s despicable that prejudice still reigns,

That some Whites view their race as pure, while hatred leaves such stains.

What makes them feel they’re justified to put the Black race down,

Regard themselves superior to ones whose skin is brown?

Have they not learned a single thing since blacks were bought and sold,

The lesson of the Golden Rule, so simple and so old?

ALL men have been created by the perfect Master’s hand.

If one race stands above the rest the flames of hate are fanned.

But CRUELTY is race-less and it must be judged as that

No matter who engages in a thoughtless heinous act.

For no one is above the law, it stands for HUMAN justice;

When men pledge to uphold those laws, ALL citizens should trust this.

What’s happened to our country that Black men must live in fear…

Of being judged because they’re black, where is the justice here?

Our laws are made for ALL men and applies to all the races

And yet the black man's singled out, just tell me where the grace is?

It must be this that laws are laws no matter who you are   

And treatment is humane to all and doesn’t go too far.

Aren’t all regarded innocent before considered guilty

And shouldn't those who take an oath, uphold it as it should be?

And what conclusion should we draw when one who should know better

Ignores the law and demonstrates how he’s by hatred fettered,

Then filled with hate and vitriol feels murder’s justified,

That George Floyd’s not deserving of his basic human rights?

But if we let our anger rule, the harm of that deduction

Is innocents will suffer from our unchecked mass destruction.

And what is gained from cursing those, can that change this injustice?

It only makes the ones who watch grow more and more disgusted.

All I can say is this MUST stop, that justice must prevail,

And never should we stand to hear another black man wail…

That he “can’t breathe” and watch such hatred daily taking place!

We can’t stand by while judging's done by the color of a face!