I Can't Breathe Poem by D Loveday Morris

I Can't Breathe

I can't breathe!
Please, don't just put a knee in
I can't breathe
Take your knee off my neck
Let me take a breath in
I can't breathe, please call my mother
I can't breathe, please just a little water

If you knee a brother, he might end up dead.
That's why when Christ was on earth he said;
For in as much as you do it to the least of these
You do it to me, so do good to others please
Stop, overlooking people in their time of need
More so, don't knee them because they can't breathe!

You're more than a robber
You're a murder and a thief
You, stole the life of another
Like Cain, you took the life of a brother

I can't breathe
Please, don't just put a knee in
I can't breathe
Take your knee off my neck,
Let me take a breath in
I can't breathe, please call my mother
I can't breathe, please just a little water
The creator is my father

An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth!
A life for a life and let's call it a truce!
Murder at the third degree? Are you crazy?
Let's protest, he must get the death penalty!
An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth!
A life for a life and let's call it truce!

Wait, even the devil deserves his day in court
The law shouldn't just suit the cause we support
And if we want people to be treated equally
Then the evidence must play out in court justly
Due process must be followed swiftly
Unfortunately, everyone must be protected by the laws equally
Remember even the devil deserves his day in court
So, if we dont like the laws, do more than protest
Participate in the voting proces and hold officers accountable
Vote them out if they are unreliable

Many innocent souls end up in jail
And history shows how much the system fail
Let him without sin cast the first stone
You too would be bothered if that life was your own
When we allow injustice to happen to one man
We set the precedence for all humans

An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth!
A life for a life and let's call it a truce!
Murder at the third degree? Are you crazy?
Let's protest, he must get the death penalty!
An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth!
A life for a life and let's call it truce!

So is there a place for forgiveness?
Forgiveness, that will create distress
Do you believe it is just about one man?
It's about the many others who are being arrested because of the policing plan
Now people just frustrated
Soon you'll be arrested for sleeping in your own bed naked
Enough is enough!
If you don't like it tough!
We must get justice!
Justice is a must for us!

I can't breathe
Please, don't just put a knee in
I can't breathe
Take your knee off my neck,
let me take a breath in
I can't breathe, please call my mother
I can't breathe just a little water
I can't breathe, I'm a husband, wife, father, sons another woman's daughter

So what is the solution?
Destroy the place! kill everyone!
That can't be the plan?
Violence results in violence.
So, the people won't be silenced!
Let's hold them accountable
Why should we be reasonable?
Did they listen to us when we tried to reason?
I said I couldn't breathe why didn't they listen?
Why isn't th play field level?

Still everyone deserves a day in court
The law isn't just for who we support
If we dont agree let's committ to writing a new story
Step out boldly and create history
Let your vote count baby
If we want people to be treated equally
Then the evidence must reveal legally
Due process must be followed swiftly
Everyone must be protected by the laws equally
Remember even the devil deserves his day in court
So, if we dont like the laws we must do more than protest
Participate in the voting process
Hold people accountable
Vote them out if they are unreliable

I know when I say this, some people might be vex
But my name is love
And I promote nothing less
Love your brothers and sisters
Be kind to one another
Remember blood is thicker than water
Earth is our mother and God is our heavenly father

Stop overlooking others in their time of need
Don't strangle people
Help them breathe
Food and air is a basic need
Don't take a life
One life is all you need

I can't breathe
Please, don't put a knee in
I can't breathe
Take your knee off my neck,
let me take a breath in

D. Loveday Morris

May 29,2020

An Extract From the Diary of an Immigrant Critical Care Nurse Living and Working in the UK