I CANNOT DEFINE IT
by Ron Brown
I cannot define it.
But I know it when I see it.
I see it in blue eyes rimmed in the grey of old age,
and in alabaster faces turning red with rage.
I see it in thin, tight lips bowed by hatred’s yoke.
Its hair stained yellow by cigarette smoke.
Still, I cannot define it.
But I know it when I see it.
I see it glaring from a sea of faces;
In restaurants and other public places,
As if spying something it finds most vile;
Pulling its valued things closer all the while.
Sadly, I cannot define it.
But I know it when I see it.
I see it occupying stations on high;
Diabolically building wealth while poor people die.
It builds castles and walls to keep out the dark,
As if building the antithesis to Noah’s ark.
Yet, I cannot define it.
But I know it when I see it.
I see its flock in robes of white,
gathering around bonfires in the dark of night;
flying stars and bars in the Southern wind;
burning crosses; crooked crosses on their skin.
Sorrowfully, I cannot define it.
But I know it when I see it.
A King tried to kill the thing
But in the end, it killed the King.
This mindless, psychopathic killer of men.
This hater of anyone with darker skin.
I pray for words to define it,
So that you too can see and know it.
The King wielded words so masterfully,
In hopes of opening all eyes to see,
Just how dark and dastardly
This obscene thing can be.
He did his best to define it,
In order that all could defy it! You see?
by
Ronald Brown
The Time Tunnel 
Live it…brilliant work…just as you dad was..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cuz! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Powerful Ron. They have no defence only their blind hate.
This just has to be reblogged
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Roger! As always, you say the most encouraging things. I am grateful for your support. Thanks for the reblog. I’m honored.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure Ron.
Something else occurred to me after I read your tribute.
Martin Luther King’s name and deeds echo around the world. Amongst the vast numbers of people who know his name, how many are aware of any of the names of any American white supremacist leader, without searching through google? Unless they see The Light these are small people doomed to the dust.
Take care Ron
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s true!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on heroicallybadwriter and commented:
Ron Brown writes with a deep and dignified passion. Here is his powerful commentary on small miserable excuses for folk and happily a Great Man
LikeLiked by 2 people
A powerful poem against racism.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Sha’Tara!
LikeLiked by 1 person
BRAVO CUZ!!!!!!
I know that thang when I see it too! I’ve seen it ALL the days of my life. It sits in the highest places; so high that you can find it depicted over the alter in most any of OUR churches!
Talk about conditioning! Adding insult to injury!
Ingenious as usual!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love, Love, Love you Cuz. Unfortunately too many of US have seen it.
LikeLike