Karen Melander Magoon

Karen Melander Magoon
 
A Boy Killed

A boy was killed
In Florida
For being black
And young
Carrying candy
In his pocket
An unarmed boy
Was killed
In Florida
For being
Seventeen
And black
Carrying candy
Black children
Now carry signs
Asking
Am I next?
A boy was killed
By a man with a gun
By a man
With impunity in his pocket
A boy was killed
For being
Black
And young
His name
Was Martin
The ark of the moral universe
Bent far too wide
Bent over the entire world
But did not bathe
This boy in light
Did not bathe
This boy
With justice
A bullet of historical bigotry
A bullet of hate and arrogance
Entered a young boy’s body
And pierced his world
In bitter tears
And pierced his world
In the blood
Of injustice
The ark of the moral universe
Described once by another Martin
A Martin with a dream
To heal the world
Bent far too wide
Bent far too long
To save
Trayvon Martin
A young
Black boy
With candy
In his pocket
 
 
 
Karen Melander-Magoon I have been writing poetry since I learned to read, and was published as a child, but only now am reaching out again to ask that my voice be heard. I spent my professional years singing major roles in opera in Europe and later singing jazz, writing and performing one-woman operas about Clara Barton, Georgia O’Keeffe and Lillie Langtry; my musical “Colette” has yet to be performed.