Poetic Perspective

This poetic perspective is dedicated to Viola Desmond, an iconic Canadian whose image is inscribed on the new vertical $10 bank notes. There is no greater way to recognize Desmond than on International Women’s Day, Ms. Viola Desmond, a trailblazer against racism.

         Ode To Viola Desmond

In 1946 Viola Desmond took a stand …
She stood up to confront that which was wrong …
She refused to leave a white only area of a theatre …
This did not meet her favour …

She unfortunately was arrested ..
And shamefully convicted …
We hail her heroism …
For standing up to plain racism

Putting Viola on the $10 bank note …
Is a great confidence vote …
We hail her contribution …
To uniting the great Canadian nation …

Racism is an affront to decency
We need to turn our backs on such an atrocity …
This woman of colour was a trailblazer …
He defiance was like a social razor …
Cutting though racism without fear or favour …

Viola was dragged off to jail
Much embarrassment to entail
She did likely grow pale …
Yet her defiance was not under any veil …

Viola showed she had guts …
As she stood up to racists, the nuts …
Like Rosa Parks she refused to stay back …
As fortitude they did not lack …

They were prepared to stand up and fight …
For that which they thought was right …
They were likely furious …
As they felt racism was most atrocious …

Trudeau and the Liberals are trying to mend racial fences …
To remedy past offences …
There was apology to the First Nations for past hurt …
Issues they refuse to shirt …

The Residential School mess was for real …
The dreams, & aspirations of helpless youths … they did steal …
PM Justin Trudeau is no fool …
Proving that he was attentive at school …

Canada has come a long way …
What more can we say …
Let me say without delay …
This move against racism … is a welcome day …

Ah, ah, ah …

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is a poet, satirist and Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.