Following the Death of George Floyd - II

The killing of George Floyd remains front and center in Minneapolis. A few days ago I happened to drive by a building that had been torched and several more that had been boarded up. But this was in St. Paul, merely a sideshow to the main action.



Following the Death of George Floyd
Day Four of Unrest - Minneapolis


Pandora,

You have again opened your box
and unleashed a whirlwind of destruction.

Four nights and counting.
Feeding on itself and fanning across America.

Close the case! before what little hope we harbor
soars off with the others.



Following the Death of George Floyd
Day Eight of Unrest - Minneapolis


Minority neighborhoods suffering.
Wanton wastage of Mom and Pop shops
and big box stores, both.

An army of residents responding
with 20,000 bags of groceries
and more,
with baby formula and diapers,
with brooms and shovels
and the will to clean,
with solidarity
in the idea things must change.

The rubble of businesses in the background,
the smell of smoke lingering,
and the unspoken fear of this momentum
                                                       being lost.



Marilyn Aschoff Mellor