The Poem I Never Wrote Before
In love- we married young-
my dear Marine and I.
We moved from North to South
to settle in the home
which housed our little nest-
June- nineteen fifty-eight.
My poems honor this.
But, I was not prepared
for visions- oh, so sad-
by me, not seen before;
the sins of racism.
The dual waiting rooms,
restrooms, drinking fountains;
each bus split- front and back.
Divided schools and church;
most restaurants denied.
I could not fathom this.
Those awful scenes- now since
made right- but that sad past-
my words could not address.
October 7, 2022
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