Lots of people were once scattered throughout those farmlands.
But now nearly all those farm hands and sharecroppers are gone.
But in my heart and mind, there's still a live picture of those
communities that once housed treasured and hard-working people.
Once filled with thriving though very poor families, those shot-gun
houses and shanty town shelters are also gone. They now form
a distant but unforgettable memory of my childhood.
Notwithstanding, there remain treasured pieces of property
that warm my heart each time I see them. It's those white-painted
buildings, a few of which are barely standing, refusing to fall.
It's as if they are shouting to me, "I'm Still Here!" I tell you.
But for the sight of those 'Pearls of Great Price', those 'Treasures
hidden in a field', the present rural scene would be unbearable for me.
From the dark shadows of yesterday's changes, challenging changes
whose time had come, those Houses of Worship have survived and
stand tall as beacons of light still shining the light of God.
Categories:
sharecroppers, childhood, farm,
Form: Prose
Taken from Wakanda rich, forced on a ship, let
the fifth amend begin, black lives for cash, moon kissed
midnight flesh driven downward, their passage last class;
into designated despair with a sting of lash.
Oppressed then separated, exasperated tears fall from blue
black faces that cry upward, into blue black places, southern
abyss, oh how long, will this go on! Forever it seems,
pain increases imagination, fueling royal blue dreams.
The best were found bathing in shekinah glory, flowing up
south the Hapi river, snatched and given no name,
soon Kings became sharecroppers, Queens became mammies,
from crowns to chains.
Categories:
sharecroppers, black african american,
Form: Rhyme
I noticed you there lost in all this dreariness
I'd catered to your morbid since of norm
unable to notice a young mother her hungry family
pleasantly destined to survive a war gone bad
a broken time where peace hid for cover
beneath a darkened underpass that dark place
where suicide played aimlessly in her torn mind
withered so throughout thee sharecroppers haste
tampered soul brilliant heart glowing mind
looking up to your eyes for guidance that
just wasn't there shock waves of fear chills
of the night time played out during daylight
sorted memories chatting harsh truths an yet
survival was being judged escape from illness
was being challenge through a house of cards
lessons tainted gravity wasted above doubt
I noticed you way off into the dimness counting
naught faceless pout leading grievances tempting
fate the impossible task folded beyond staying alive
we're taught never to look back come home survive
Categories:
sharecroppers, appreciation,
Form: Dramatic Verse
In darkness of wombs
Vines of umbilical grace
Flourish with navel blossoms
Of forever present maternal love:
Mothers are sharecroppers of God.
Categories:
sharecroppers, 12th grade, analogy, imagery,
Form: Prose Poetry
My grandmom was a good woman in her time she was born in the depression error the daugter
of sharecroppers in the deep south of Ms of clinton in the country she didn't finish school she
clean schools for living it was a job the biggest job was taken care of other people kids I'm one
of them cause the way she did it was a blessing by being handicapped I was her joy of life by
getting me up to go to school church to my doctors visit every month she clean other peoples
houses she gave good avice to people who need it she was there for every body the things that
she talked me is how to make it in the world on your own when other people is not there for you
I'm teaching my son the things she was telling me then and now
Categories:
sharecroppers, black african american, childhood,
Form: Ballad