Emancipation Ovation – An Ironic Overture
The list of named
and unnamed.
The strange fruit and
and the unfinished lives.
Stories I know. But,
I. Don’t. Know.
Ahmaud with his running
George with his breath
Breonna from her bed
Emmett’s fake whistling
The King while he dreamed
All. The. Others.
Some sins aren’t history.
Some forgiveness
we don’t deserve.
While we preach solidarity,
the divide always is.
We. Built. This.
Bought and sold.
Freedom granted.
Freedom isn’t granted.
Freedom isn’t earned.
It wasn’t ours to give.
Freedom. Just. Is.
I have black friends.
I am an ally.
I protest.
I’m woke.
It’s all about me.
Stand back. Stand by.
Photo c/o Darrin Bell