By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
SOUTHERN CROSS
The serpent in the rose garden
has monochromatic eyes
senses the heat of prey
A cold blooded predator
coiled up
in Jim Crow’s shallow grave
He poisons
the memory of lives sacrificed
for slavery’s sins
Takes a knee
for Robert E. Lee
The serpent in the rose garden
injects venom
into unhealed wounds
throws matches onto kindling
stakes a fortune
on the southern cross
burning again