The Poem I Never Wrote Before

In love- we married young- my dear Marine and I. We moved from North to South to settle in the home which housed our little nest- June- nineteen fifty-eight. My poems honor this. But, I was not prepared for visions- oh, so sad- by me, not seen before; the sins of racism. The dual waiting rooms, restrooms, drinking fountains; each bus split- front and back. Divided schools and church; most restaurants denied. I could not fathom this. Those awful scenes- now since made right- but that sad past- my words could not address. October 7, 2022