my eyes have seen the tan sand
between marshgrass green blades
and hallelujah singin’ white men
where black bodies lay
overhead flew stars and bars
red and blue they waved
in dixie land where I was born in
bodies molderin’ in the grave
they died for a land that broke their heart
I have seen Him look away
from blue black skins and broken flesh
and no more days to sing God’s praise
their souls go on a’marchin’
one frosty morning on the wave
the inspirations for this poem can be found here:
glory | dixie | john brown’s body | battle hymn of the republic | amazing grace | 54th Mass. Infantry
yes. color imagery vivid; each couplet was a poem in itself.
i dug this.
Preach, brotha…preach. That was tight. Keep on.
man, this exuded survival & pride… deep verve
I don’t see couplets or alternating rhyme often these days. If Tupac and Phyllis Wheatley had a love child, it would be a lot like this.
Well done.
/t
love the name…