Food 4 Thought On George Floyd and Where We Are

As a general rule, I typically don't address controversial topics on Pen and Prosper. And with good reason. I figure there's enough "noise" on the Net. Why amplify it. True?
Still, as writers and bloggers, sometimes it becomes important for us to use our platforms to teach, transform, share important stories, eradicate ignorance and enrich others. Not to mention, when we are silent on crucial issues we miss the opportunity to make a difference.
This is one of 'dem times.

The other day, I walked endlessly, to the point where my feet ached, in an effort to search for something simple. I had a taste for some meat loaf, but was out of ground beef. (And humbly speaking, my meatloaf is "to die for".)

I walked from store to store, corner to corner, block to block. They all had one thing in common.
They were all closed due to recent looting and chaos associated with the George Floyd incident.
Many were boarded up. It was nothing like the beautiful, busy streets I usually encounter in my middle-class neighborhood.

I found myself fighting back the tears out of frustration. How did we get here?
It seems that "the more things change the more they stay the same."  Truth is, a lot of folks believe that in this post-Obama era that discrimination, racial injustice and police brutality against people of color are a thing of the past.
If you're one of them, I have some land I'd like to sell you. :-)

To process the pain and vent, I wrote this poem.

Feel free to comment (respectfully) or to share your own thoughts as well.
No judgement here.

4 GEORGE FLOYD

Nobody wins,

When the injustice

We seek to avenge

Is overshadowed

With a victory that’s

Shallow,

A war waged

With looting,

Shooting,

Senseless violence 

And civil unrest,

With scores

Of stores

Ensconced

In boards,

As havoc

Lords,

Nobody wins,

Nobody wins,

When history’s former lessons

Go unheeded

And progress impeded--

By ghosts

Of yesteryears,

unresolved fears,

And a

 broken system,

With a pathology

Yet to be 

Remedied,

Nobody wins,

 With hatred 

And an 

“Eye for an eye” mentality,

For the inescapable reality

Is violence 

Begets violence

Plain 

And simply, 

For 

in the end,

LOVE

Always

Wins

On a final note here, I am proud to announce my contribution to an upcoming anthology on activism, slated for publication in September.

Learn more here.

https://musewrite.com/forthcoming-book

Have a great week ahead.

P.S. Please excuse any typos. I have not had my caffeine yet today.


Image credits: Pixabay.com