Lewis Leary's Shawl

Lewis crept into Harper's Ferry
at cool dawn's light in '59
with angry John Brown,
pursed keen and unkempt
to bleed over his shawl,
then died for his wife

Mary, grew old and gray
and left that stained shawl
for grandson Langston Hughes,
to inspire him someday

Langston took Grandma's shawl 
and took oppression to his heart
to rise up in other words,
"where people suffered 
in beautiful language"*

© Goode Guy 2013-02-03

* Langston Hughes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_Hughes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Sheridan_Leary
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Brown_(abolitionist)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

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Fisher Avatar
March 3, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Very enjoyable and gritty poem.
Jad Avatar
March 2, 2013 at 8:14 PM
There is music in every syllable... no ... there is an orchestra behind every word!!! Very lovely poem... I enjoyed it a lot!! And thanks for the links - most useful!! :D
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