i acknowledge
your sacrifice.
your commitment
to justice–
to truth.
which seems
to be lost
in the hubbub
of ‘the game’
and things so much
less important.
but you stand
next to the greats
such as
Ms. Rosa Parks,
MLK,
Mahatma Ghandi,
in your practice
of peaceful protest.
it is
for this
you are being punished.
while others continue
to serve and forget
it is you
who have pledged
yourself to life
and its importance
while the less observant masses
buy snacks
and plan game-day parties.
it is you
who could easily
cut your hair
and sire children
who would never
be seen as even brown.
yet you
do not.
you refuse to stand in the presence
of murder
and honor the flag
that flies over a land filled
with conflict.
I honor your sacrifice
and i will eschew
the ‘national holiday’
that has become the day of
‘The Big Game’.
rather, i will stand with you, Colin;
i will, in irony, eat guacamole, salsa and chips
and read a book.
while Congress fights over
‘the wall’
and while my ‘home team’
runs the field
oblivious to the usury
they incur;
amidst the fanfare and lager
i
will be cheering
for us,
for you.
Linda Tauhid
©1/31/19