Red Panther

Chantal Nadeau, poem, 2021
*Drawing : Jessie Mott, Red Panther, 2021

Red for Fred
Black for Hampton
killed in a po-po raid
December 4 1969.
A black eye
the size of the city
a hovering presence
a sore in the heart
for a ground that was never meant to be a grave.
Yet.
We want we to remember
for a hell of a goodbye
Epiphany the sanctuary
December 6 1969
the day blood congealed in a memorial
a crimsom farewell
for a future that might one day skip the odds
in the dark of the night
in the light of the temple.

Red Panther

Chantal Nadeau, poem, 2021 *Drawing : Jessie Mott, Red Panther, 2021

Red for Fred
Black for Hampton
killed in a po-po raid
December 4 1969.
A black eye
the size of the city
a hovering presence
a sore in the heart
for a ground that was never meant to be a grave.
Yet.
We want we to remember
for a hell of a goodbye
Epiphany the sanctuary
December 6 1969
the day blood congealed in a memorial
a crimsom farewell
for a future that might one day skip the odds
in the dark of the night
in the light of the temple.