NPR’s resident poet Kwame Alexander and Morning Edition’s Rachel Martin suggested we write poems for Ahmaud Arbery, a black man killed by vigilantes with law enforcement ties in Georgia.

Justice has yet to be served, though progress is being made as the assailants have been arrested and are being held without bail, while the 4th prosecutor to handle the case, a black woman this time, steps to the plate.

I heard the call out. And I knew it was time to write.

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Then it came in spoken words.

My condolences to Ahmaud Arbery’s family.

I pray for justice — and that we have the courage, patience, creativity and collective support to eradicate the twin‐headed, demon evil virus that embodies racism and violence.

Kwame Alexander plans to take the poems submitted in response to the callout and remix them into a new work. Let’s keep listening!