The Fire This Time
For martyred protester,
who was executed in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Snowstorms will come and go across the world;
snowflakes, the flurries of sorrow
and tears when a country burns to the ground.
How do we warm ourselves against
the cold hardness of tyranny?
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a nurse,
who gave up his life
on the snowy and icy streets of Minneapolis,
his protest spreading
a kindling fire of revolt.
Now, a prairie fire will emerge,
a raging firestorm ravaging the countryside and cities.

The People will create their barricades
and barriers of fire
from towns to cities,
but it was in Minneapolis, Minnesota
that fire transformed into the ice of hate
against the oppressor.
The Minnesota youth and workers girded with courage
will resume the long march
from early morning until the stars cross the skies
at dusk.

 

Luis Lázaro Tijerina is a military historian and military theorist. He is a published author. Mr. Tijerina admit that he writes poetry and paints easel works as an outlet for the more intense work that he does from a professional position.