How You Treat Black Men And Children

With bodies floating face down
The Colonel must be proud of how
you treat Black men and children

while you pile stones for the fortress
you sadly have yet to notice that
the winds changed direction months ago

frankly, I’m not surprised
I hear it’s hard to smell scorched embers
when they burn so close to your own nose and throat

but that shouldn’t stop you from
continuing your quest to rid
the world of the thinking and compassionate

on this first year anniversary of my death
I salute your ability to survive
despite your own coat remaining constantly ablaze

and, when the Black men and children
do eventually find you floating face down
I am sure they will know exactly what to do.

© 2004 Dan Kasten