Monday, November 10, 2008

Heirloom Diamonds

I'm too young to remember most of that:
the marches, Connor's dogs and Little Rock
the noose, the burning cross, the midnight knock
the woman on the bus who simply sat
and wouldn't move, the brave young volunteers
whose bodies lay in Mississippi mud.
My vote was paid for with their guiltless blood
transformed to treasure by the passing years.

They didn't care how long they had to wait:
the old folks queued to vote. I watched them cry
for joy this time, instead of grief or fears
or bitter anger. We drove back the hate
another step this time: and you and I
inherit diamonds in these old men's tears.


Collection available! Knocking from Inside

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tiel, this made me cry. Brilliant, and so poignant.

Dan Gambiera said...

Heard outside a barber shop this week:

Rosa sat so that Martin could march and Obama could run

Anonymous said...

Lovely. Keep hope alive.

Julia Phillips Smith said...

'another step this time: and you and I
inherit diamonds in these old men's tears.'

Wonderful ending!

Linda Jacobs said...

Superb ending! The sonnet flows so naturally.

Anonymous said...

Amen! I think you should send this to the Obama team - local and national.

Anonymous said...

the last 2 lines of each stanza are very powerful!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Softly and nostalgically the poem works toward that powerful image in the last two lines! So very beautiful!