He Could Not Breathe Poem by G. Akanji Olaniyi

HE COULD NOT BREATHE

Could he had reduced the melanin of his skin
Or he could had applied a bleaching cream
Yet he was human being
A living specie of the human race
Who desired to be law-abiding
He chose the route of submission
Took the cuffs without hesitation
A towering piece and a gentle giant
Husband to a woman
And father to a child
He begged for water to drink
He asked to be allowed to breathe
He got no water nor free air
All he got was a firm grip of a knee
Tightened hard to his black neck
The pitch of his voice waned slowly
He could not breathe
Till he passed on
He could not breathe! ! !


To the memory of George Floyd who passed away May,2020, in Minneapolis, USA.


Olaniyi G. Akanji
©️ 30 May,2020