Marked With His X
amid shackles and ropes
with fire burning
hatred into eyes
a child stood
without understanding
seeing tears wet
on mama's cheeks
and papa's goodness
spread hatefully
upon tracks
displayed as flags
of their righteousness
worth descended
into slavery
of white opinions
placed on heads
bleeding into
superiority
expressed in violence
he grew to become
the hate
that hate produced
with a fierce
determination
to offer freedom
for all peoples
who suffered at the hands
of racist oppressors
by any means
necessary
became the creed
adopted from years
of watching whites
cover their crimes
with veiled innocence
what is not given
freely
must be demanded
for to suffer
in silence
is complicity
to accept
is stupidity
to do nothing
is cowardice
and he was none of these
no one race
is divine
only God is thus
and so he stood, tall
against all those
who deemed him
unworthy
taking his seat
at the table
of humanity
demanding to be fed
as all humans
have an inalienable right to
demanding that truth
be served
on large platters
for the world to consume
for where there is truth
lies can not hide
and hope is born
into minds and
hearts
in his life he struggled
to find that light
but in time
he stepped into it
basking in its glow
ready to shine
enlightenment
on a world
still shadowed in
hate's darkness
but he would pay
the price for dreams
with his life
yet the price
was never too high
for the dream lived on
and thrived
giving birth
to a future
that he marked
with his
X...
Copyright © Bernadette Langer | Year Posted 2007
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment