A Modern Day Ballad

By JeanMarie Purcell of Eugene

one dark night in a small Florida town
soon the whole world would know
what would  become a story of renown

as a dark skinned boy would walk to a store
soon the whole world would know
a passer-by thought him up to something more

walking alone he was up to no good
soon the whole world  would know
not only that — he was wearing a hood

the two came to blows in someone’s front yard
soon the whole world would know
the light skinned one saw himself as a guard

protecting all those who lived near abouts
soon the whole world would know
neighbors overheard calls for help and shouts

the light skinned one knew he acted the right part
soon the whole world would know
using his hand gun he shot straight to the heart

of the black boy on his way home from the store
soon the whole world would know
a trial and bad law would open the door —

an unarmed boy would be found the guilty one
soon the whole world would know
that the shooter was given back his gun

many a watcher was scratching his head
soon the whole world would know
one suffered some bruising, the other is dead.