When O.J.
was acquitted
everyone stopped work
to listen
to the verdict
complete standstill
as they slowly
released the verdict
of not guilty
then some were pissed off
others celebrated
everyone had an opinion
& there was the racial thing
& the gender thing
some questioning
the legal system; jury system
I listened to
“He’s guilty.”
“He’s not guilty.”
“reasonable doubt”
“racist jury”
The media played it
to the hilt
and we all played along
and paused our duties
to hear the verdict.
Silence reigned
for a few minutes
breaths were held
& the verdict was read
over the radio
and we really did lose
that day
but not the way
most people think
2-5-96