by Jim Glaser
Demonstrations in the wake to the refusal of two grand juries to indict police officers in the deaths of unarmed civilians are taking place today across the country. Nyack resident and poet Jim Glaser offers his impression of the events surrounding the death of Eric Garner in Staten Island.
Look at his eyes
his face
hear his voice
“Officers, I’m not doing anything
wrong. Just leave me alone!”
pleading
Watch his arms
unthreatening
like a flailing child
trying to clear a space of safety
trying to clear space to breathe
around him
Prolong this moment
Stand for this moment with him
hear his tears of anger
and fear
a man alone
desperate for help
Stand with him
Watch the pack slowly circle
draw in
Stand with him
Be the cop on the beat
who wasn’t there
who comes up just then
and says
“Hey Eric
what’s going down man?”
who puts his hand on his shoulder
and says
“Hold everything….tell me, man.
It’ll be ok…Tell me!”
Jim Glaser is an old eastern/midwestern guy who was born and grew up in the woods and snow and somehow got to California where he taught high school science for 29 years. He now lives in Nyack, NY.
