The Cruel Knee

The cruel knee

Of bigotry and blindness

Crushed the breath out of him

On the coldness of the street

In 8 minutes, 46 seconds

As the crowd called for life

The hands-in-pocket indifference

Prevailed

hearing George Floyd

Plead for his breath

Plead for his dreams

Plead for his life 

Still the uniformed predator

Lorded In casual dominance

Over his apprehended prey

A dominance firmly rooted 

In the colonial kingdom 

Of the white plantation

Known as America.

Stephen Longfellow Fiske