Tale of Two Cities

Jeffrey Taylor

February 15, 2021

“A riot is the language of the unheard.” —MLK

Washington DC, June 2020:
Unarmed peaceful protesters
are met by four uniform rows
of heavily armed and armored
National Guard to keep them
from the open memorial
to Lincoln.

Washington DC, January 6, 2021:
Armed and armored protesters
are greeted by lightly armed,
unarmored Capitol Police unable
to keep them from restricted
chambers in the Capitol. Where
is the National Guard?

An insurrection is not
climbing walls, smashing doors,
looting offices, posing for selfies
for a few hours then retiring
to boast over a few beers.
Riots are not CEOs’ only language
nor those who with
cross-country plane tickets.
Police chiefs and well-paid
politicians are not the unheard.

This is a tantrum
of White Privilege. This
is the voice,
of “Because I can.”

Jeffrey L. Taylor never received higher than a C in English throughout school and college. Through articles in recreational computer journals, he learned to write with rhythm and conciseness, often too concise. In poetry, that is not a problem. Around 1990, poems began waking him in the night. He now writes in the day.