White silence is violence, I still have so much to learn. This is a letter to the heavily armoured American police.
This is a letter
To the barricades
Addressed to the ones
Hidden behind shields and shades
The ones who pledged to serve and protect
Standing here in this sad day
It starts with some questions
Why did you want to be a cop?
What dreams did you have?
What injustice did you want to stop?
What treatment would you want for your mother
And what would you not?
What does the law mean to you?
Is it unquestionably true
Or, does it only protect people like you?
And for those that are different
Is it still as strong, or a guideline,
Or is it non-existent?
Because the law defines a crime
But in it
Our rights are so enshrined
What judge are you
To uphold or undermine?
Where do you draw the line?
You're a cop
You facilitate the law
It's your job
But when orders from superiors break it
Do you question or do you stop?
Who do you serve?
And when you go against
The laws declaration, legal and clear
Is it worth it? The law is for all, don't all deserve it?
What do you say to the dream
When it asks what happened?
Is 'I don't know' or 'what do you mean'?
I write this as a white guy
Got a beard to
I've only ever seen one side of you
But seeing the other now so clear
I can't but cry
We are all equal, why did all these people have to die?
Whether you feel that or not
It's written in the laws you uphold
Laid down as society's best
The standard, gold
What made your heart turn so cold?
Tonight you stand in force
Armed and armoured
Tonight who do you serve?
What shall I put on the record?
Is it the law's letter?
Is it justice?
Dave James Horn ©
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About Dave James Horn
Based in Folkestone, Dave James Horn writes poetry to raise a smile and provoke a thought. He is part of Poet’s Corner Folkestone and an organiser of the Folkestone Language Exchange. Read his full bio here.