Eight Minutes Forty-Six Seconds

To hold your breath
To see life but less
To awaken from a dream
To know that God is real.
To walk by faith
To live in grace
To love thy neighbor
To give and receive, is our labour.

As we work through
The testing of time
And in the mist of life
We realize
That there is not much
To look in another eye
And see the image
Created we are
To reflect His Love
And heal from a wicked heart.

On this path I see
A journey of disbelief
That life this day will end
And a new journey around the bend.
How long will it be
For God knows I can’t breathe
as the pressure unbearable
to think this was foreseeable.

I grip that which I know
For the only response is beyond
the heartless hands that throw
their weight upon my neck
sucking dry my final breath.

Set me free so I can see
this new journey of a new life to be
in a place where the saints beyond
as I’m welcomed into the fold.

I’m saddened by the cries
of my loved ones left behind
to face the atrocities
of a vile humanity.

Inspired however to see
that they are not alone
as people across the world
take a stand, breaking down the thrones.
United the front in transforming hearts
acknowledging the sins of the past
yet moving forward as a people to be
formidable and strong
to overcome brutality.

Never a day such as this
when as a people we rise and sing
in marches to that uniting song
We Shall Overcome this day.

For there will be other challenges to face
but our humanity will not be erased
as different we are in color and creed
but the same blood runs through you and me.

O. Stephen Peart. 2020 © All rights reserved

Motivation behind this Poem
A response to eight minutes forty-six seconds of pain into eternity. Eight minutes forty-six seconds of wondering when will it end. This is a reminder of the time it takes to change the world. One might take the time to destroy and that is a choice. Another will take the time to construct to shape a new life so others can live, give and speak. We are the inspiration for change, the voice to the voiceless and the words to the stories. Above all else, let us walk into the light.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

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In loving memory and honour to a man that bore the pain for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. #GeorgeFloyd