I am privileged to be a part of a creative community where I live. Amongst us are a number of poets and spoken word artists. My dear friend, Veronica Ebanks, is a prolific writer who has penned poems on a broad range of themes. She performs under the moniker of: Veronica E-Poet.
Veronica has kindly agreed to be my featured poet and has offered her powerful piece ‘Knee’ for us to reflect on.
Follow Veronica on Facebook and Instagram: @vernbanks
Knee
When Colin Kaepernick knelt down, took a knee
He was kneeling in protest against the murder, of black men see
He was not able to honour and revere a country where public servants
Are free to slay melanin-rich humanity
Number 45 has encouraged, permitted even praised hate
More innocent humans abused and attacked to date
I am hoping and praying if, and when, they come for me
You will do something, anything, will you help me?
Martin Luther King said something like
When it is all over, it is not the voices of our enemies that
we will remember
But the silence of our friends
Will you try to save me, do something in solidarity
Say something about justice and liberty
Even simply taking a knee?
Veronica Ebanks