strange fruit -

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** For Billie Holiday & Abel Meeropol **

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in a dream - Mississippi, the 50's lone hike on a sweltry spring-tide day rolling fields of cotton and wheat cauliflower clouds like lazy old men creeping across a buttery haze … as I walk, I tickle the tops of the grasses hands open, palms down blessing them like mischievous children … strolling a rise in no hurry but oddly compelled ball cap and short sleeves skin rosy from the midday shine - naked, dazzling sun, yet … an odd trepidation as I round the hilltop - below is a peach grove in glorious, pregnant bloom such strange fruit, these southern trees bear burnished, dark, twisted slowly spinning in the cruel heat - and flies … realization hits me like a fist and I retch into the beautiful blossoms at my knees turning away in horror and shame for my skin is white - the fetor, overwhelming and he... was but a boy. ~ For Billie Holiday and Abel Meeropol ~ ~ 1st Place ~ in the "Early January 2019 Any Form, Any Theme" Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Judge & Sponsor.

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Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 1/6/2019 7:35:00 PM

A sad gutwrenching chill from reading this masterfully written piece Greg. Emotional horror portrayed vividly with your pen. I see why it is at the top! : )

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/9/2019 4:54:00 AM

That's very sweet of you, Connie, and I'm so glad you liked this one ... it is very important to me. Blessings, Dear Poet! :-) <3

Gershon Wolf

Date: 1/6/2019 3:50:00 PM

Wow! Absolutely spell-binding. A masterpiece, redolent of the time, the circumstances, the scene you set. This had my palms sweating, as well as the back of my knees... A FAVE. Bravo! Best wishes, admiringly ~ Gershon

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/9/2019 4:53:00 AM

Oh, I'm so happy you liked this piece, Gershon, as I always get apprehensive about these "touchy" subjects, and try to be sensitive but also make an impact ... I don't always succeed. Many thanks to you, my friend! :-)

Andrew Fairchild

Date: 1/6/2019 3:48:00 PM

Thank You for this! I have been haunted for years, by Billie Holiday's song, 'Strange Fruit' - Hard to Believe the level man's inhumanity to man can sink to. Excellent, and sensitively written!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 1/9/2019 4:51:00 AM

That's so kind of you to say, Andrew, and I so appreciate your heartfelt comments, and mention of Billie, (who is a sort of hero of mine, for personal reasons) ... that song affected me deeply, and still does. Abel Meeropol wrote it, but she brought it to life, and she had a very similar experience while on tour with her band in the south, (and she nearly was lynched herself). Blessings, my friend! :-)