Liu Xiaobo Died Two Days Ago (Written July 15,2017) Poem by Raymond Farrell

Liu Xiaobo died two days ago
Almost forgotten and forsaken
I have only words to offer
He was a Chinese writer
Literary critic, human rights activist
And Nobel Peace Prize laureate
For his efforts, his words, his insight
The Chinese government
Threw him in prison
Tortured and abused him
In the end
Liver cancer ravaged his body
He passed away
Just as the G-20 leaders
Were meeting
Not a word was spoken
About this brave soul
By any
Of these spineless
Heads of state
For fear of offending
The Chinese leadership
Who have them all
By the economic balls
I have only words
To offer
But these so-called leaders
Who continue to sell us out
Time and time again
For the love of money
Could not even muster
A few comments
Or better yet
Take a collective stand
To resist tyranny
Such is the state
Of the world
In which we all live.