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A Fallen Leaf

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Like a fallen leaf on a Fall day
Trayvon Martin lies on the ground
Dead of a bullet
Fired by a man who chased him for being young, black and in the wrong neighborhood—
Like a fallen leaf
Blown listlessly and carelessly
One more black youth
Now famous for his hoodie
And his youth
Trayvon
Your parents grieving
We—
Your God-parents of America
Grieving—
Grieving the fallen leaf
Taken from a live branch
Is this how we care for our youths?
Without jury or counsel?
Without questioning—
Without care……
The hungry wind blows throughout the land
And a black youth lies dead of ignorance and stereotype
The leaf is blown across the grounds of every gated community
And it breathes the name:
Trayvon.
Trayvon.
Peter Kenichi Yamamoto
August 27, 2013

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