By Michael McQuillan
Stars and stripes blue field so cool nation great they say
what cloth symbols stash in childish minds adult racism belies
blue was once my favorite color as on clear and sunny days
but that means danger now as police use force to kill
though not before the torture that brings the bigot’s thrill
pine green restores my sullen mood recalling Christmas cheer
a fleeting consolation as white supremacists in blue
profane their oath of service to destroy what I hold dear
shelve your racial bias be careful with your knee
if Lincoln’s freedom prose was just for show there’s no democracy
That’s old stuff tattered parchment with texts too long online
I don’t like their formal language, I’m seasoned on the street
I’ve had the latest training, my mastery’s complete
Brothers sisters know your rights with cops but keep your wits intact
those white-skinned guys are wearing blue but all they see is black
I’ll try to help when sirens scream though they chase me too
it’s like the south up north there’s little we can do
Neither loving-kindness nor complying with an officer’s command
assures you’ll walk away black friend when they stop and frisk for nothing
jam you up against the wall then cuff you for their pleasure as you tumble toward a fall
they bargained with the devil who gladly took their souls
as all men in blue pretend they’re heroes when the truth is no
that bigots are among them oh how fearful they must be of difference
we know isn’t different after all
Black Lives Matter glows in gold with murals trending citywide
but summer heat and traffic will make paint on pavement fade
will our Mayor then propose a tickertape parade?
Hope you’re not a smoker pal but if loosies are your thing you’re at risk like Eric Garner
to a cop who’s out for blood, ignoring rules ignored by peers who watched the victim die
did the “vast majority of good cops” have no openings on their schedules that day
or did they know there’d be no backup in the future on a stairwell in a slum
where they’d find themselves alone to face a criminal with a gun
if on a Staten Island sidewalk in the sunshine merely once upon a time
they intervened with dignity and strength, conscience at the fore
to save the black man’s life and put blue boy on the floor
Protests point direction but demands just stiffen spines
form a coalition launch pursuit of common ground
paint pictures with descriptions make posters music or a play
draft a manifesto or through choreography display
what social justice looks like that would make all lives so fine
collaborate where we agree to make those points complete
elaborate in detail ensuring that’s concrete
Have we handled housing, health and culture? incomes, dignity?
poverty correlates with crime there’s no need, happily, for arsenals
as policing unlearns punishment we release our rage and fear
restorative justice can concurrently appear
hard work will be worth it
let’s take the moral stand!
blue was once my favorite color
to restore it would be grand
Michael McQuillan, former US Senate aide, and Peace Corps Volunteer, for 19 years taught history. He writes often for the History News Network and Harlem World Magazine.
Send your poem to harlemworldinfo@yahoo.com with poetry in the subject line.
Become a Harlem Insider!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
