Bernie Poem by Mark Nichols

I was open to the man early on
But skeptical
Even though I'm a self-identified
Democratic anarchist-animist
With a libertarian sense of Dadaism & good nature
All wrapped up in humanism
And I'm militarily conservative

I looked over my brow at the man
on that #blacklivesmatter day
In Seattle, my home city
On the stage I've seen so many things go down on
He was boldly confronted by some Seattlelites
Who were steamin' mad
They said 'please listen to us! '
Please understand!
And just listen
Just 'Shut up and listen! '

Bernie was clearly unprepared
He knew it was too big
He put his head down
Shamed almost
He said,
'I need some time
Time to think'
And he went away

I felt worried for him
He looked so small
So old
Defeated
Obsolete

But the very next day
I fell in love with the man
Because he put the most beautiful thing
Flaming into the universe
Where everyone with eyes could see

It was a clean and clear manifesto
Called Black Lives Matter
And what
Would (Prison)
Should (Income inequality)
Has to (Police militarization and prejudice)
Change (Educational opportunity)
For the black family in America
To find peace, equality and respect

The whole thing blew me away
And I wanted to be like it
Be there with it
Shout for it
Whatever it was