Wednesday, July 24, 2013

after the verdict poem

Black mother in line in front of me
at McDonald's
after the protest

probably my age
three kids
oldest son maybe 12

he's clearly used to responsibility
he keeps the other two out of trouble
yells at an angry drunk who kicks their bags

his mother turns and asks the woman of color behind us
"what happened over there?"
pointing to the rally spot we just came from

the other woman says
"Zimmerman verdict"
and the mother says, "oh, that was today?"

she does not ask
and the other woman does not tell her
that the verdict was Not Guilty

and I watch her oldest son trying so hard
and I look at his mother's eyes
and I know why she didn't have to ask

19.7.2013

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