** 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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