Moratorium

Old man
in Doughboy uniform
standing erect and
proudly at his door;
his private, silent
counter-protest
to this march
against the war.

Citizens streaming to the Rally
by the Reflecting Pool,
every street a tributary
adding people to the flood
of national discontent.
Concerns discussed aloud
among the swelling throng
that revolutionary malcontents
and government provocateurs
will disrupt this peaceful day,
subversive of freedom.

Carni van entrepreneur
selling food from his
mobile kiosk -
young protester taking pity,
goes and buys hot coffee
for a policeman doing duty
on this frosty day.

These vignettes
I recall most clearly,
not great celebrities
or impassioned speeches.

But most of all
I recall –
protest over,
crowds dispersing;
driving down a
street that night,
to be met and overcome
by clouds of tear gas drifting.


James Gagiikwe © 2008