Artist Deborah McDuff shares with us her new poem, Lies. It's a reflection of her thoughts and emotions during this overwhelming time of unrest and loss. McDuff is also the artist of our exhibition Impact on Innocence: Mass Incarceration. 

Lies
​
Scripted words hidden intentions
Feels like I'm living in another dimension
Anger and racism is filling the air
People are sick and dying without healthcare
Domination and control of those who dare
Civil unrest is growing everywhere
Police officer or Peace officer
Whatever you prefer
Whitewashing the blue wall of silence
Doesn't remove a history of violence
Who is one to trust or believe
The media, liars, facts, videotaped evidence or reality TV
Stay in, Why, centuries-old crimes are killing me inside
Stay in, Why, liberate this disease from our lives
Stay in, Why, the world sees how the innocent die
Stay in Why, to stop believing lies and survive
Inhumane treatment brings patriots to their knees
In silent protest at home and overseas
Knees have knelt for different reasons
While some seek justice for Black lives
Others kill Blacks as their inherent right
Citizens march for free speech and legislative change
Agitators protest for political and criminal gain
Face coverings, isolation, joblessness, and deaths
Has everyone struggling to take a breath
The President calls the pandemic a Democratic hoax
And prescribes hydroxychloroquine and Lysol for common folks
Ignoring science and social distancing he hides in a White House Bunker
While the voices of equality and solidarity drown out his thunder
 McDuff © 5/28/2020