Belva Berry 1889-1905

Belva Berry 1889 - 1905 I truly never asked to be born. I truly never wanted any of this. But what choice did I have? What choice does any one of us have? With our first breath We begin our long slow descent into the darkness. With our last breath We end this long steady slide From nothing to nothing From dust to dust. I was the girl who lived in the corner house Over on Newlin and Broadway streets. I was the shy freckled daughter Of Lunetta and James Berry. And I was the unknown silent witness To the crushing tragic tumble Of my secret esoteric friend, Elvin. Elvin Allen. Elvin and me walked hand in hand To the eastern hills that day. Elvin and me stared into each other’s eyes and smiled that day. And Elvin and me dared to dance on the sweet oily dirt that day. There in the midst of the black fields, The land of the black oil machines That rise high like chess pieces The Bishops of industry and money! We kissed that day And it was our first kiss. And then, he climbed up the ladder there. I saw him fall, Fall like a falcon from the heavens. And I knew he was gone. Please forgive me God for running away. Please forgive me God for never telling anyone Of the first kiss, our kiss, That long ago day in the black fields In the eastern hills Of this Quaker town.