To George Floyd

Like a leaf in a tree You raised your head and eye For dew and breeze In such a day as Sunny but colder grew the autumn sun Drifting you down and down As if in wintry air unto shivering And groaning Like a wind-born and time withering leaf Wailing for life Far, far away On the chilling flurry After lying on the roadside brown You were gone Though immune to the colder Winter wind yet with a clap of thunder You took your flight Leaving your tiny weary eyes silent And staring And all in grief and shocking But like a gem of splendor and a gem of flower Flinging whiffs of perfume everywhere Of admiration And affection Childlike and credulous And touching us Like morning and soul-like wing Oh! How akin you were to human being Brother, you flew far, far away Darkening the sky Yet hope persists you would turn again With as many George Floyd as possible and settle as one To make the bare branches look green and full While I pray God in heaven, in peace rest your soul