South Carolina.

A POEM

I know

I AM

I too truly

have the choice points of faith instead of fear

But if asked on this Saturday moning to sign the paper

his permission slip then

Affirming

I hesitate and do not sign the muster

that he may go

I am in love with Ruby Bridges

In awe of Ruby’s mom that let her go

enrolled her and registered to that school….

glad today it was her and not me….

I read about BROWN

I just took the time to look up her name Linda Carol

and the Board of ED and looked not at Thurgood or Earl

but the mom that let her daughter Linda Carol the third grader

in Topeka agree you can use my baby’s name ...

for a shorter walk to school near our house

Emmet Till’s mom said

Open the casket… he was 14 and visiting just for the summer…

today it stops here with me…

He is GROWN

a half a century… almost 100 years in real time….

But still my prayers of protection

And somber delight