In Memory of George Floyd

The monastery cemetery, taken by Sister Nancy Bauer

IN MEMORY OF GEORGE FLOYD (1973–2020)

The black, the brown
the poor,
especially the poor
unheard persons
of the past centuries
from the hot cotton fields to
northern bigotry
are crying
to be heard,

crying
to breathe, they say,
to be heard and
understood
what it is like
to be afraid
ALL the time.

Tired of
it all, sick and tired
of the stupidity,
unbelievable deductions
of what white people surmise
when an occasion –
small or large
(like George Floyd)
happens,
they cannot
contain themselves
and tear apart
what is in front of them,

now pray
we might have our eyes
torn open and
pray now we can finally see.

Josue Behnen, OSB