Probably
Cause I’m not from Texas or
Alabama
And sadly I did not serve
Juneteenth was lost on me
Maybe because it was the sugar and the red velvet cake I don’t like
Burnt ribs I’m not fond of and the reunions that take me no further south than the Potomac River I was advised to not cross
Gratefully all I had was my certificate of service at the VA
Almost 2 decades of faithful service
Never to retire
I had to rely on the stories of my father and uncles and grands and kin
James and John
Why sing a song that said don’t let your sons grow up to be cowboys
Go thee to the library
Keep your lessons
Lean in
Listen closely
To whispers in your ear of those
Who only trusted you
When their god seemed not to
Be around or even close at hand
Then
And only then can you
Might you
