by Julia Griffin

“A towering statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee will be removed
as soon as possible from downtown Richmond…”
—The Guardian

“Belgians want statue of genocidal King Leopold II removed”
—Reuters

Lightly with Leopold, lightly with Lee;
Rope the high horses, let sunlight fall free:
See how they darken the heart of a town.
Take them down.

Lee fought a war for the right to keep slaves;
Leopold battened on Africa’s graves;
Blood’s on the stirrup and blood’s on the crown.
Take them down.