Get Your Premium Membership

Your Fallen Cry

You're walking a tightrope, unafraid to fall ... having no safety net to catch you at all Still, you're not afraid of falling to your demise Such a dangerous high wire act, balancing dying to show the truth with living a lie Black woman 1834 You got the right skin tone; passing for white will open the door, and allow you to get off your knees scrubbing floors Your intellect possesses so much more Right now you're in the middle of a swaying tightrope And there's no turning back once you reach the other side to the forbidden life Your black night will fade into white daylight That runaway slave thought to be dead, will resurrect as a free woman instead, with a price no longer on her head You thank God for helping you cross the tightrope, and taste sweet freedom on the other side of hope At night you shed tears, thinking of the loved ones you left behind But they had always urged you to go chase freedom Their wisdom often strengthened you: they said not all black berries remain on the branch, some fall to the earth free And the wind blows their seed to another place, and there up sprouts a new tree That always comforted you at night, when tears would stream from your eye With a heavy heart looking to heaven, the cool night air lifting your fallen cry

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 1/14/2017 8:30:00 PM
Great dramatic write about runaway slaves in the 1830's Freddie; especially love the verse about not all black berries remaining on the branch,etc.…P &L~Che
Login to Reply
Robinson Jr. Avatar
Freddie Robinson Jr.
Date: 1/15/2017 6:31:00 AM
Ty Cheryl. Like I told CayCay, this was a tough one to write. Very emotional, but for you to feel this poem as I feel it, brings me such joy. Ty for reading it and enjoying it. Love always to you from me.
Date: 1/14/2017 4:28:00 PM
I was okay until the last nine lines when I choked down a silent sob. Those lines are beautiful with divine flow and they perfectly and totally overloaded me. You got this softy with this dramatic write! Poetry hugs ... CayCay
Login to Reply
Robinson Jr. Avatar
Freddie Robinson Jr.
Date: 1/15/2017 6:25:00 AM
Ty CayCay. This was a very emotional poem to write. I appreciate your kind insight. It moves me to know that it touches another soul deeply as it does me. God bless you. Love and peace to you.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things