PROLOGUE
It was a win-lose deal
A Black man was deprived of his right for appeal
His life a self-proclaimed executioner did seal
In an almost nine-minute ordeal.
THE BIG BLACK BEGGAR
For a fake twenty-dollar banknote
He was arrested by a police officer
Whom he called by the name of “Sir”.
The officer soon did vote
For the Black man’s death penalty
Yet the Black man never pleaded guilty.
Yet the Black man never pleaded not guilty.
He was thrown on the ground
His fall gave rise to a startling sad sound
That resonated the whole world around.
He felt the weight of a heavy knee
On his big black body
He gasped for free fresh air
He begged in despair:
“I cannot breathe”
“I cannot breathe”.
Black was his skin
That was his unforgivable sin
The executioner knew no pity
While the Black man begged for mercy
“I cannot breathe”.
The passers-by watched the scene
They could not intervene
Else they would meet the same fate
The execution they only could contemplate
While the black man kept saying,
While the black man kept imploring:
“I cannot breathe,
I cannot breathe”.
He begged in a desperate and final whisper:
“I cannot breathe,
I cannot breathe”
He begged in a desperate and last prayer:
“I cannot breathe,
I cannot breathe”
In a desperate and ultimate attempt, he did utter:
“I cannot breathe,
I cannot breathe”.
His eyes will see no more
The bright days of summer
Nor the cold nights of winter
He will supplicate no more:
“I cannot breathe”.
EPILOGUE
He begged for freedom
He inherited martyrdom.
Norman TAMBANIVOUL
Dr Idrice Goomany Treatment Centre