Kneelers’ Insurrection

Thomas Quitzau

March 14, 2021

Many thought ol’ ‘merica truly sucked

But only for periods, if only

For times when our sensibilities, shocked,

Found even courts and constables comely.

Repulsive, some thought, were the stars and stripes

Until they weren’t, racist the banner

Gripped in battle, wars followed by gripes

Balked by journos, squawked by any manner;

Too manly to fly, too white, demanding

Blown where the wind goes, like our opinions

Not worth standing for, protests withstanding

Slapped whiplashed minds of a million minions.     

       Bloodshed in her name blessed hands across hearts:

       Kneel then, pitch her into the fires she starts.

Thomas Quitzau is a poet and teacher who grew up in the Gulf Coast region and who worked for over 30 years in Houston, Texas. A survivor of Hurricane Harvey, he recently wrote a book entitled Reality Showers, and currently teaches and lives on Long Island, New York with his wife and children.