In the Wake of

Written after reading an article about a retarded man shot to death by officers for 'not complying'

In the Wake of Injustice

Another man dead

At low noon

Another man dead

Another one soon.

‘Who’s to say’ the poets said

More to the point:

Why to say.

We can’t change the past

We can only change the future

But through lessons learned

And challenge faced

We can overcome.

So, who’s to say

What he did

That deserved such harsh

Reproach, and who’s to say

The hangman’s wrath

Was anything but true.

When they say

Separation of power

What they really mean

Is an illusion.

As when you give

A man a gun,

A badge,

A will.

He will use

It for himself.

And when you give

A man gun

It’ll only feed

Delusion.

In the Wake of Anger

A screaming vehemence

While justified

Will only serve

The slaughter.

To him

I gave

a soul.

To them

I take

The whole.

Thrash.

Thrash

Thrash

Thrash.

One more time

Thrash.

‘Till only

Sorrow’s

Left.

In the Wake of Sadness

And if

To live

Is like

It is.

Then save

Me the

Ordeal.

Is there not

A single thing

I can give

To him

From me.

‘So take a loss’

They said

To me.

‘He is not yours

Of which to grieve’.

To this I say

“An Injustice anywhere

Is an Injustice everywhere”.

In the Wake of Fate

We can’t change the past

We can only change the future

But through lessons learned

And challenge faced

We can overcome.

And through the past

Which knew these things

Another thing

Is known.

Those who look

To those who fail

Are bitter

To the bone.

IN THE WAKE OF LIFE

THEY REFUSED

IN THE WAKE OF DEATH

HE DID.

Author's Note

My first poem. Tell me what you think!

Reviews

[Valkyrie Warrior]

I like it. I like the way you have the different in the wake of's and how in after each there is a related verse. will read more of your work, you are off to a promising start.