"Bend the knee..."

Bend the knee, better yet, bring the flag to half-mast -

it’s a tragedy still that we can’t face the past,

that the fabric from which it is woven is torn

along racial lines, and the child to be born -

in the south or the north - will be placed on a track

in a losing position if his parents are black.

Kneel for all of the people whose rights have been waived

in the land of the free and home of the brave.