Shema for George Floyd

The one prayer
That does not ask, or plead, it
Directs: Hear!
Commands: You must love
The Lord your G-d.
With your whole heart, with every breath.
How do you command a person to love?
The prayer in the morning
and the prayer at night.
The prayer before death.
Who said it for George?
Murder by knee.
The Ayin and Dalet–
Enlarged and blackened.
In the Torah that means
Pay Attention:
Pay Attention,
Listen,
Love.
Ayin and Dalet: Witness.
We are all witnesses.
Bind these words upon your heart.
What we witness is bound upon our hearts.
We are bound to George, and he to us.
Can you hear the heartbeat?
Shh-ema: Listen.

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