I can't breathe

Crucifix at Franciscan Monastery

another life was taken away

a child of God born with God-given honor and dignity

under an arrogant dehumanizing knee with full body weight 

slowly losing strength to beg for life

with no air to breathe

in front of the eyes of the helpless bystanders

he died 

along with him

love died
justice died

the belief of humanity being innately good died

in a human form full of corrupted self-indulging power 

I saw an evil

"I can't breathe"

echoes in my heart the familiar voice 

"I am thirsty"

of another violent death

and I lament again
Lord, how long and how many more lives will it take 

Mr. Floyd, 

May you now breathe freely in the presence of God who created you. 

 May your neck be held in the gentle and healing strokes of Jesus' hands 
once broken but now made whole. 

And may the love and justice come alive
from death to resurrection

In honor of Mr. George Floyd 

an unarmed black man in Minneapolis who died under police custody 

after a police officer pressed his neck to the ground with his knee until he became unresponsive