“Stolen Lives”
They march on City Hall,
Trailing a long banner,
A fragile memorial,
Dedicated to mostly young minorities,
The fatal victims of police brutality,
Of New York’s Finest.
As they march they chant:
“Police brutality by the hour!”
“What do we do?”
“Fight the power!”
The fragile banner trails behind the marchers.
One hundred and eighty-seven stolen lives.
From the sidewalk in riot gear
Some of New York’s Finest watch.
About William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters
William Eric Waters is an award-winning poet, fiction writer, essayist, educator, criminal-justice scholar, and nonprofit executive. Writing as William E. Waters, he is the author of the epic poem Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass and three poetry collections: Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, The Black Feminine Mystique, and The Black Blood of Poetry. Under the pen name Easy Waters, he is the author of the novel Streets of Rage and the short-story collection Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice. His work explores Black history, race, law, punishment, institutional power, accountability, redemption, and resilience.
William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters 