Pantoum (Untitled)

An assignment inspired by the Human Rights art exhibit at the Claude Pepper Center:

Fire truck red as the siren's glare
when the eye perceives lime most readily
the patriot's red, we stole with defiance
Why have we always conformed?

Orange is the shade of humid air
fire truck red as the siren's glare
orange is the shade of stagnant sand
when the eye perceives lime most readily

Humans marching toward orange
orange is the shade of humid air
drawn by the pheromones of a cosmic queen
orange is the shade of stagnant sand

Our minds are molded, constrained before me know
humans marching toward orange
and blister-footed children cry out
drawn by the pheromones of a cosmic queen

And smooth-skinned boys are camouflaged as men
our minds are molded, constrained before we know
red eyes, red blood, Red Flag
and blister-footed children cry out

And smooth-skinned boys are camouflaged as men
the patriot's red, we stole with defiance
and blister-footed children cry out
Fire truck red as a siren's glare.