Poem: Taking a Knee for George Floyd
Photo: forbes.com
By Umang Kumar
lockdown, chokehold
New York you fell with Eric Garner
never got your breath back
who knew the virus has lived
deep within you for so long
your green lungs are sick with it too
– what’s novel –
the virus chased Trayvon, claimed Tamir
got Freddie, extinguished Sandra –
it’s been all over the country already
what were you trying to outrun
Ahmaud?
Minneapolis has Philando’s blood
on its hands, remember
This is how it kills, George
like a knee on the neck
bearing down
to crush you
constricting breath
severe
acute
respiratory
syndrome
– pestilence –
America you’ve been behind
masks and hoods far too long
underlying health conditions
coronary artery disease hypertensive heart disease
Lies like airborne viruses
the aerosol mist of white innocence
Who said the virus kills
irrespective of race or class
Bio:
Umang Kumar is a writer based in Delhi NCR and believes in global solidarity.
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