[Fruitvale BART station,
Oakland CA
January 1, 2009]

my country 'tis of thee
sweet land of liberty
of thee I sing

did you know before today
a bullet fired in disdain,
callous indifference
into a young father's back
as he lies face down on harsh cement
will power through, race through
his body prone
bounce off the pavement cold
and splash back into vital organs
like the heart and spirit and soul,
leaving no room for compromise,
explanation or forgiveness
and no time to say goodbye
to his beautiful baby daughter?

but you know now...

of thee I sing

[for Oscar Grant] 

(c) 2009 Jeanne Powell