Protect and Serve Even the Klan

The image of a black cop

Assisting a member of the Klan about from the heat to drop

Is as powerful as an image of an Armenian coming to the aid of a Turk

Even toward the most despised humanity ties still lurk

Or a victim of the Holocaust reaching out to a member of the SS

The ability of humans to forgive is hard to completely suppress

Officer Leroy Smith has to represent the noblest epitome of protect and serve

Putting emotions on hold and a member of the Klan his life try to preserve

I had thought the Klan had finally faded into history’s trash heap

With all the bombings, lynchings, and murder, a fade all would praise and none weep

In Charleston the demonstration by it over the Stars and Bars shows it must still exist

A brand of hatred the rest of humanity must strenuously resist

That unnamed member of the Klan should come to his senses and recognize

That he is one lucky racist human to wake up this morning still alive

The image has gone viral and it is this poet’s fondest prayer

That any Klansman will see it and the racial hatred in his heart will fade into the summer air

© July 20, 2015 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes for All the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift