Andrea Dietrich Poet Quatern

Notes About The Poem

Several years ago, I watched the movie about this town in Florida called Rosewood. A tragic event occurred there over a century ago. Please watch this ten minute video if you can find the time. It explains how the massacre of Rosewood enfolded, a terrible event that led to the burning of an entire town, in which 7 or more people were killed and all the others fled, never to return to their homes.  Here is a  chronology of the events leading up to the massacre and a link to the short video as well as to the movie:

http://www.displaysforschools.com/history.html

THE ten minute Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V5kEs0oNxc

Trailer for the movie: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhTg98WzH5U

 

Rosewood

The truth stood downcast in the lie,
and more than one that week would die
when someone’s wife, who feared great shame,
then gave an innocent the blame.

Her scapegoat was both young and shy.
The truth stood downcast in the lie.
Her lover beat her, so she said
it was the young shy man instead!

Her face was bruised. What could she say
to take her lover’s blame away?
The truth stood downcast in the lie. 
The town took up a mob’s cruel cry!

The man accused was black of skin.
They lynched him for the woman’s sin.
The world looked on and asked not why
the truth stood downcast in the lie.


Written Aug. 3, 2016 
for the Truth Stood Downcast in the Lie Poetry Contest of John Lawless

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Lord Bard January 20, 2020 at 5:17 PM Very nice! Thanks for this tribute.

Line Gauthier April 15, 2018 at 4:44 PM Wow, Andrea - a wonderful tribute to the poor innocent man that will live on with each person insensed with this injustice. This must have happened more often than not.

Joseph May August 27, 2016 at 1:26 PM Congrats on a fine win Andrea

Laura Leiser August 26, 2016 at 11:17 PM Congrats on your win, Andrea. A very sobering write, indeed.

Agnes Krampe August 26, 2016 at 10:12 PM Congrats on your 2nd place! Well deserved. Agnes

Alexis Y. August 26, 2016 at 7:32 PM Hi Andrea, I knew this well written piece would place high. Congratulations on your 2nd place. It was well deserved: -) Alexis

Tom Arnone August 26, 2016 at 7:31 PM Excellent and relevant write. Congrats!

Sandra Haight August 26, 2016 at 3:11 PM Such a horrible happening, Andrea. Your poem brought forth the emotion and sadness so well. Congratulations on your podium win. Hugs, Sandra

Charlie Smith August 26, 2016 at 2:31 PM Very well deserved Andrea, congratulations...

Jan Allison August 26, 2016 at 2:27 PM Dropping back with my congrats Andrea:-) hugs Jan xx

John Hamilton August 26, 2016 at 12:51 PM Another great top win Andrea well done!

Beautiful Scars August 26, 2016 at 10:49 AM Andrea, perfect for this contest lady, love the take-congrats on your placement :)-luloo

Sunita U.D Palawon August 26, 2016 at 10:45 AM Congrats on this wonderful idea Andrea for your quatern. Terrible what you exposed here...Hugs Sunita

Sara Kendrick August 26, 2016 at 9:42 AM Congrats!! Sara

John Lawless August 26, 2016 at 9:05 AM Andrea, this is a beautifully written poetic reflection on an horrific event in our history. Well Done and thanks for submitting it to the contest.

Tom Arnone August 19, 2016 at 12:36 PM Has someone been dreaming of Mockingbirds? ;-) Enjoyable read, Andrea....

James Horn August 19, 2016 at 6:25 AM AD, "To Kill A Mockingbird" this reminds me of. There are so many tragic stories like this. Sad but true. We are always looking fore a scapegoat and Jacob's Coat. Jim Horn

Scott Thirtyseven August 18, 2016 at 10:47 AM I watched the video, what a disgrace. I appreciate your poem. You capture the cruel truth so well. And just so you know, I found this poem on the new links that appear on the side of the page. Well done in getting advertised in that space. Now best of luck in the contest.

Paul Callus August 9, 2016 at 10:57 AM It was very fitting to write this narrative in Quatern form, Andrea; the repeated line has had the desired effect. What a sad racially motivated massacre! ~ Regards // paul

Joanna Daniel August 9, 2016 at 1:38 AM A great write for the contest, Andrea:) Looks a winner to me:)

Connie Marcum Wong August 8, 2016 at 10:05 PM You are on a sky rocket to orbit the earth with this constant stream of masterpieces Andrea. I have no doubt I will see this one up in lights. Brava! 7 ; )

James Inman August 8, 2016 at 12:02 PM Deep subject, great flow, wonderful word choice and excellent choice of form, a superb write Andrea.

Sara Chansarkar August 8, 2016 at 8:42 AM This is so amazing Silent! Sara Chansarkar August 8, 2016 at 8:49 AM So sorry Andrea!don't know why I though it was Silent One's poem:( but its ia a truly amazing write!

Joseph May August 7, 2016 at 5:40 AM Powerful and sad ...well written Andrea...

Bl Devnath August 7, 2016 at 1:42 AM It's one of your best sure. Very informative and great poem. My Fav. one my friend. Good luck sure. Hugs, Cloudy poet.

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