The blood of my ancestors
runs through my veins like the
waters of the Apalachee
more shallow in some spots
but unable to be disconnected
my people come from Ireland and Poland
as much as they did from Africa and Honduras
I am the brethren of those slain
and those that committed the slayings
so when I lend my pen and my voice
to bringing hope back
to build a bridge of peace
than that is I trying to
run through each sides history
just like that river
running down yonder
where the blood of my brethren was shed
at the hands of my brethren
because I be
some of this and some of that
proud to say that that comingling
is what invented "black"
and there can be no right
til it's understood we are also
in the bloodlines part "white"
so to say that we seek this
for just one side of the family tree
is impossible for me to see
because when I look in the mirror
I know what runs through me
and he and she and we
that once divided us because of
what we think we see
but that ain't how it has to be
because blood runs like a river
always coming from somewhere else
and ending up someplace new
picking up pieces of where we've been
as we over time ramble and ripple
our way through

this was a mission I had no choice in
it's a part of who I am and something I had to do

Something tells me that they
closed their eyes to pray
more faith and fortitude
than fear of the bigots attitude
something tells me that they
called on Him
not to save them
just to please
tell their ancestors
that though it seemed too soon
they'd be meeting them there by
the next day's noon
Something tells me that they
weren't riddled with fear
as their bodies fell
from the bullets
relentlessly being showered
upon their slender frames
Something tells me that they
were more concerned with God
and not us - remembering their names
didn't intend to be martyrs for a cause
never thought of or took pause
to imagine what this that happened to them
would do to the hearts and minds
of other men and women
Something tells me that they
simply wanted peace
the violence to cease
for them and their families
at the very least
Something tells me that they
had no idea that their lives would
touch a nation as it does to this day
and when it's my turn
I hope that they are among those
to meet me at the gates
so I can thank them for allowing me
a vehicle to try with my life
to rid us one poem at a time
of hate.

Down where the peaches grow in abundance,
sits a little place not often mentioned.
Only whispered about in correspondence,
did something that happened capture my attention.

A story of murder and a great sorrow,
and a people still very much in need of healing.
Some took their last breaths still waiting on a tomorrow,
that never came to appease what they died feeling.

Down along the riverbed lays a town,
that since that summer day has never been the same.
Listen close and you can hear the sound,
of time still whispering their names.

Deep down south people wait on the Lord,
believing still that there are better days to look toward.

W-hat some may think is impossible,
E-ventually will be a fact of life.

W-on't accept failure as an option,
I can not...we can not,
L-ife is too precious,
L-ost too much to the which is not.

O-ver time
V-ictory will be ours to claim
E-ventually if we
R-emain steadfast on this
C-ourse to see it through
O-nly then will
M-urders left unanswered for
E-volve into the catalyst for no more.

T-ime heals some wounds
H-owever, there are others
I-t does not
S-uch as this one of which I write about.

T-hough still is my faith strong
O-ne day at a time - in due time
O-vercome this too we shall

Down there
where folks go now
fishing for crappies and catfish
a memorial stands along one of it's shores
reminding of a time when
fishing for food wasn't what
it's waters were being used for
the bridge to connect two counties
was used to divide two communities
and dinner ain't been the same since
couldn't have been
not when it's loved one's missing
from round the table
nothing in these lives again
ever stable
time just flowing on like the river
that runs beneath
ripples in the waves
remind me of those sent
streaking thru the lives
of more than just those families
like that of the man
who once had to ask his father
"did you kill those people?"
never the same again either
but able to go on with life
even if sometimes he must stop
and take a breather
it never leaves your spirit
never stops haunting your soul
no matter what stories or lies
you've been told
the river ran on
life went on as well
but under the bridge lays buried in rich soil
a story still left to be told
there even when the fisherman are not
perfectly preserved waiting to be revealed
the truth remains...not so concealed
just waiting on the current to shift
and we come to this place to be healed

in due time

This quest for justice
is not for black people
no no no - not at all
this is for 4 Americans
shot down like dogs
by fellow Americans
too blinded by colors of no significance
when HUMANITY is concerned
each of us made in His image
and the devil will use anyone
to do his dirty work
white men with racist tendencies
are not alone in that
unfortunately at this time
things turned out just like that
but the beautiful thing about
this great nation of ours
is it has never EVER
valued life as something so little
NEVER ended it to be disposable
and especially not those
within her borders and shores
someone knew that we'd need that
someday down the road
or murder would have a statue of limitations
like all other crimes
instead - we can still fight
for those that lost their lives
all those years ago
and mend history
with the just the acknowledgment that
Americans - they were then
and will always be
define me as nothing else
when you look at me
maybe then you'll see what I see
when the faces of those lost
stare back at me

Look how much WE have done
that WE thought that WE'd never do
no I'm not talking about our President
look back over the years
WE have conquered fears
WE have fought darkness and forced light
to shine in places meant to be forgotten
WE have stood together
shoulder to shoulder
and made CHANGE come little by little
piece by piece WE make this country whole
black, white, and all other races
man, woman, and child
Muslim, Jew & Christian
made no difference at all what WE were comprised of
because WE would not be moved
WE would not take no for answer
WE saw civil rights legislation through
women the right to vote
not to mention equal pay
justice come for the falsely accused
because WE never stopped believing in them
and once again I have faith
WE can do this too
heal a small town
heal a nation
heal ourselves
not only CAN WE do this
but WE MUST as Americans
or WE may be the next to be lost
to time in memories spoken of
far to rarely...

think about it