An Exemplary Protest

Hooray for Colin Kaepernick 
    Who dared to take a stand
And make a statement—make it stick— 
    To ring across the land.

He sat down while the anthem rang,
    Star Spangled Banner's chorus,
But silence echoed, that's the thang,
    And set his deed before us.

"Policemen, while they shoot to kill,
    Get paid leave and vacation,
Offing whomever as they will
    Without recrimination.

"So how can a man stand for that?
    Let deeds stand in for words— 
No beggar I, hands clutching hat— 
​     Demand change, not by thirds.

"As citizens-in-full men have
    A right to life, due process,
Treated as free men no one's slave,
    Heir to life's gains and losses."

Such were the words the athlete spoke,
    Unsaid but by his sitting,
Taking a stand, alert, "awoke,"
    And well their target hitting.

Some "patriots," riled up, condemned
    His exercise, his duty,
Whose actions neither hawed nor hemmed— 
    It was a thing of beauty.

"The rights of man I exercise
    Apply equal to all,
Or else the Constitution lies:
    I sit, lest it should fall."

Both elegant, articulate,
    His manner put to shame
The rabble crowd, in clamor great
    As it reviled his name.

So here's to Colin Kaepernick,
    His head above the fray:
Denunciations do not stick;
    So hats off, and—hooray!
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