Hypocrisy Beholden...To Mirrors And Smoke Poem by James B. Earley

...Sitting.....in silence
Whose principle bespoke
Of...hypocrisy beholden
...To mirrors and smoke

Truth held in contempt
....'Tis a trait.....denied
Considering the notion
Kaepernick...never lied

...Were....Lee...the victor
The vanquished....Grant
...Rebel's...cherished symbol
Would be the Nation's rant

Confederacy's...flag
....America's....choice
More clearly defining
....The athlete's....voice

Just sittn'...in silence
...Where silence bespoke
Of hypocrisy...beholden
....To mirrors...and smoke


Author's note:
'I'm not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.'
~Colin Kaepernick - San Francisco 49ers quarterback commenting on why he did not stand for the playing of the national anthem before his team's preseason game Friday against the Green Bay Packers, August 27,2016