Blues/Lamentations for George Perry Floyd, Oct 14, 1973-May 25, 2020

From Mama Linda’s Chapbook, 29 June 2020

O MY LORD!
Did you see what
They did to George Floyd?

O MY LORD!
Did you see what
They did to George Floyd?
They put pressure on his neck
With their knee
Poor George went on to Calvary.

O MY LORD!
Did you see what
They did to George Floyd?

PAIN & TRAUMA!!!
George called for his
Angel Mama.

PAIN & TRAUMA!!!
George called for his
Angel Mama.
She opened up her arms
“No more hurt! No more harm.”

O MY LORD!
Did you see what
They did to George Floyd?

People came together & marched.
They shouted & they torched.

People came together & marched.
They shouted & they torched.

“NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!
STOP THE SYSTEM OF
RACIST POLICE.”

O MY LORD!
Did you see what
They did to George Floyd?

They rallying cry was hurled
All over the world.

The rallying cry was hurled
All over this world.
Thousands gathered in
Cities & towns,
And some statues
Came tumbling down.

O MY LORD!
Did you see what
They did to George Floyd?

SOMEHOW! SOMEWAY!
WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY?

SOMEHOW! SOMEWAY!
WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY?
A change has got to come
From the heart,
Or this country will fall apart.

O MY LORD!
Did you see what
They did to George Floyd?

– Mama Linda
Copyright 2020 by Linda Goss

> Find a complete interview with Mama Linda about the creation of this poem

Author: The Peale

The Peale is based in the first museum to be purpose-built in the United States, designed by architect Robert Cary Long Sr. and opened by artist Rembrandt Peale in 1814. It is a building of many firsts, and today in the creative spirit of its founder is relaunching as an innovative Center to celebrate the unique history of Baltimore, its people and their buildings through the authentic stories of the City. Currently under renovation, the Peale is open for occasional hardhat tours, and all of its programs are available online with live captioning and ASL interpretation.