How do you identify people who are looting?
You don’t, you, look at their colour and start shooting
You shoot because they all steal.
So it’s no big deal
If between the looters the innocent die
What does it matter when they all lie
They’re good for nothing except lowly jobs
And you have to watch them because they rob
You of everything even bread
So best you make sure when you shoot that they are dead
You may want to burn their bodies after
Then compound your deed with jeers and laughter
And justify it by saying you were defending your property
From violent robbery
And amid the chaos, riots and madness
Bullets, batons, fires and screams, sadness
Tentatively lifted her head.
When we looked around and saw who was dead
There were no savages, but people of all ages
Bodies missing, some strewn in the streets, unmistakably victims of rages.
Bloodthirsty rages but not racism
You screamed in defence of fascism
Ethnic mobilization you agreed and cry
With many of you knowing it was a lie
A young boy stood with undies in his bag.
Willing to risk his life for his clothes to look better than the rags
A young woman violently pulled from her car and struck
Out of luck, because on the basis of colour, she was a thief and looted
And trying to proclaim her innocence, she was muted
So many people who were simply going about their day
Had to pay
The ultimate price on the basis of colour
Paying for a valour
They never wanted
But couldn’t hide that they were shunted
For walking, talking and just being
With death finally freeing
Them from the burden of race
That worldwide they have to face
Black lives matter
They matter more than merely a splatter
On a pavement, for sins they never had
But deemed bad
Now that the dust is settled, we have to reconcile
And compile
The list of bodies and families that have to be told
To bury their loved ones, swallow their grief and behold
Life without a loved one so dear
Then told to advocate for peace without a tear
Fear gripping them because they are hated
Never seen as honourable and rated
Thief, savage, looters
Except they were not the shooters
Of their kin
But shot instead based on the colour of their skin.
