Hi-Dong Chai Poet Free verse

How America Has Changed

How America has changed

(First Sunday in Austin, Texas, 1955)
I go to church 
Ten minutes early
To meditate and pray

I hear an organ playing
“In Christ there is no east no west
In Him no south no north
One great family bound by love
Throughout whole wide earth’

I open my eyes
I look front and back
All pews are filling up

I look to my right
I look to my left
No one comes
Sits in my pew

What’s happening?
I wonder
Do I smell?

I look around again
No blacks
No browns
But all whites

Except me


BUT TODAY

You know the answers
All I can say is
I am grateful to be an American

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Quoth Theraven December 29, 2019 at 4:55 PM Hi-Dong, This poem tells of the wisdom of hindsight. And told so well.,without casting blame. Though told of how you felt, and remembered that time. I'm glad that you're an American too. And grateful for your stories told in your way and words. -Richard