Monday, July 9, 2018

Legacy

What was it that you did that caused
so many to be so angry…
was it the color of your skin,
or that you were educated, well spoken
rose to a position that they couldn’t fathom
because they were so color-blind?
With an impeccable record, devotion to wife and family,
class, faith, dedication, selfless love of country
you were everything they were not.
They hated that you were unimpeachable.
They thwarted you at every turn,
resorting to epithets and insults.
Maybe it was your easy manner, your ready smile,
your rapport with others
your unwavering sincerity,
and the ability to see through lies,
identifying those who’d try
to pass something by you.
Your one fault: your faith in humanity;
your belief that even those who disagreed 
would finally see, would come around
to recognize the end results, 
this legacy that you would leave…
but they couldn’t get over the anger they felt
or the color, the color, the color of your skin;
discrimination by any other name is still the same.                  
The ugly green-eyed monster embarks on his campaign
using fear and ignorance to build up his own gain.
his constant rants become a chant, the anger his achievement
at every turn he’d watch you burn while citing disagreement.

Yet history will long denote the ones who gave their best
who knew the laurels of the past are not a place to rest;
the ones who shored democracy; unselfishly they stood,
the ones who had integrity, who worked for greater good…
no matter who comes after, their legacy remains
known not just for who they were, but the leader they became.

© Ginny Brannan 2018


Image credit: Stencil by Stencilstarter JB at DeviantArt

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Thank you for reading my poetry and sharing your thoughts.