Admiring his handiwork, he stood

Before the wall drenched in paint.

They compared him to Banksy; they would

Claim he could draw anything, without complaint.

But comparison to anyone was degrading,

For Hermes wanted—more than anything—

His own, original legacy to be unfading.

A legacy as strong as Martin Luther King.

Noises filtered through the alley,

And he quickly retreated to find cover.

Two officers approached his art depicting a rally,

The “graffitied” cries of equality causing them to hover.

Delighted to uncover another of Hermes’ pieces,

One officer snapped a picture to send to the rest of the police—

not thought of as a crime or a delinquent’s form of release

but rather Hermes’ message for peace.