Physics Lesson for Officer Darren Wilson, The Cop Who Shot Unarmed Mike Brown Six Times inFerguson, Missouri

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In physics, thermal radiation by dark objects or bodies 
can be measured as blackbody radiation. 
The term “blackbody radiation” describes an object that 
radiates internally at the same temperature as it’s environment. 

Kevlar and steel badge make you more frigid;
you… don’t radiate at the same temperature as the bodies
you are sworn to protect.
Your temperature, a degree below inhumane,
too low to understand brilliant black bodies in Ferguson
or to see that Mike was not a black hole in search to consume six more.

Blackbody radiation emits light, though it appears black,
as most of the energy cannot be perceived by the human eye.
You, were too “human” to see his
             black body,
             human.
All naive adrenaline.
His imperfections outshining his future emanating inside.
In nature, no blackbody is perfect. 
No 
              body is perfect.
 
Insulated enclosures contain blackbody radiation
only emitting a light when a hole is made in its wall.
Big Mike was a large body.
Large
              black
                          body.
6’4”, 300 lbs of energy they never trained you
to harness,
would need way more than one hole in him
to see all the shine within.

Why is it our black bodies never seem to stay enclosed 
around 
               police?
The bright-blue burning in our bosom
blackened by bright blue flashing lights.
We have been forced to not reflect,
just absorb bullets and beatings.
For centuries, we have been trying to gleam bright enough for laws 
to know we are more than dark unknown boiling to be incandescent.

We marched with the logic 
the more black bodies, the more glow.
Boycotted as if taking away our light
would show you how dark this world is without us.
Our riots weren’t violent; they were ultra-violet.
But here we are still just embers after gun smoke.

Some scientists say blackbody radiation doesn’t exist;
But Michael was another star plucked from the darkness,
and Ferguson is more luminous than ever,
blazing bright with piercing protests and bodies so sick of swallowing abuse
that they’ve become volcanic.

Proof,
that action will always have reaction;
light will always have refraction.
And beware of what you beam at black bodies,
you may not be prepared for what beams back!


About Douglas Powell (Roscoe Burnems)

2014 National Poetry Slam Champion, poet, teaching artist, and father. For info, books, albums, and/or booking go to www.roscoeb.webs.com View all posts by Douglas Powell (Roscoe Burnems)

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