Until All the Cows Come Home, by Jerry Johnson

folk broadcast bull over airwaves
all day long until all the cows come
home and Malcom said “the chickens
come home to roost” and Malcom is
gone but not forgotten and Martin is gone
but not forgotten and Emmitt Till still
weeps and blood still runs deep in
Langston’s Rivers and the liars no longer
tell little white lies, now loud liars yell
loud lies – shamelessly – all day long til
all the cows come home and the chickens
still come home to roost and shame – flees
scenes of cross burnings and truth has been
declared public enemy number one and love
has been declared public enemy number two
and compassion has been captured and sentenced
to death and civility and sensibility are on the run
being hunted down all day long by a posse of cowards
all day long until the cows come home, all day long, all
day long, all day long, all day long and the chickens
still come home to roost

~~~

Jerry T Johnson is a Poet and Spoken Word Artist whose poetry has appeared in a variety of literary publications worldwide. Jerry is author of two poetry collections: A Coldness, published by Finishing Line Press, and Poets Should Not Write About Politics, by Evening Street Press, winner of Evening Street Press’ 2020 Sinclair Poetry Prize. His poem, “The Apology,” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021.