RIOT

A posting of a poem written April 1, 2013

Riot

A Palm Sunday reflection

He rode in on a donkey

mocking the powers that be

no king sits happily

on a beast of burden

but power likes to think

itself, well, powerful

and he was a peasant

leading a revolt

among common people

and we have made him

something he consciously 

and continuously refused

to be when he lived--

a royal.

He liked prostitutes and lepers

tax collectors sidled up to him

he made jokes in the marketplace

and wore a hoodie

but we have made him

a joke, an April's Fool

someone who doesn't

care one whit

for poor folk, teenagers

with skittles and tea

or women shot in the head

while standing

on corners

waiting on 

buses

He would not recognize

himself in the portraits

we have painted of him,

with no whips,

overturned tables

or gall.

© Valerie Bridgeman

April 1, 2013