Rosa's Eyes
sitting fearfully
with stubborn resolve
warm cocoa simmering
amongst whitewashed marshmallows
puffed up with self worth
dusted with sugary arrogance
slurs stirring inside
endlessly whipping frenzy
to pleading eyes
she rode in silence
speaking volumes
that would sound loudly
what kind of world was this
that the light
feared the dark
instead of welcoming
the blending
for one without the other
would leave emptiness
filling the void with
tangible hate
teeth bared
without reason
lessons learned
at someone else's knee
wrapped up in lies
to be labeled
truth
still she sat
with the ignorance
staring through windows
from the past
with defiant intent
to change her limited view
of future expectations
in her eyes blurred images
of burning crosses
trees with swinging feet
and white hooded men
claiming superiority
in God's name
or any name
that would justify
immense cruelty
the past lived inside her
poverty and hunger
dark degradation
remembered in memories
of generations
spoken like fairy tales
but with truth's conviction
her papa had borne scars
engraved with hatred
into honeyed skin
of the shackles that cut
deeply into worth
and self definition
inside his eyes was
aching refusal
to accept so called truths
he and his papa before him
carried the scars
passing them forward
to burn again in new eyes
hoping and praying
to one day drown
fiery flames of pain
with cooling salves
of knowledge,
freedom
and most of all
equality
little girl dreams
are all the same
they know no distinction
of class or race
human rights are
inalienable
should be granted to all
human beings
yet some still ride the bus
at the very back
fighting to regain
what should
have always been theirs
watching the scenes evolve
over and over
reinventing prejudice
disguising its malicious intent
through concave windows
that catch an eternity
of tears
falling silently
from Rosa's eyes...
Copyright © Bernadette Langer | Year Posted 2007
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