1620
The birth of an American fairy tale
(say it with me)
The Mayflower landed at
Plymouth Rock
(I wonder what the Indians called it)
pilgrims
helpful Natives
the Macy’s parade
football
Turkey, potatoes and corn
Black Friday!
(it surely was for the Indians)
1619
My American Story begins
where the White Lion landed
(about 10 miles from where my great-great grandpa was born)
In Hampton, Virginia
(I wonder what the Indians called it)
with its 20 some odd Negroes
(the loved ones that survived…can we know how many other
sisters, sons, uncles, wives
surrendered to the sea? Only the profits mattered…then, as now)
Whose lives transformed
America
in a different way
But at least that time
history didn’t try to make us believe
That there weren’t already people
living here
25 years of my adult life
A convert to and practicer of
Catholicism
Stand up
Sing
Sit down
Pray
Kneel
Pray more
Sit
Listen to the words
Stand
Listen to more
Sit
Listen
Sing
Kneel
Pray
Eat
Give thanks
If you are what you eat
Then we who look like god
Are the bodies of the babies
Lifeless and dangling on the end of a spear
(protect life indeed)
While Christopher Columbus looks on
Beholding Paradise
To his dismay
Being run by women
Ashamed of neither naked bodies or naked souls
But clearly in need of saving
Receive the blood of christ
Its earthy sweet perfume
Tempered with drops of blood
Flowing daily from the Whipping post
At the center of the mission of Saint So and So
And the tears long hidden
Born of the silent sobs
Of those who trusted Father.
© 2023 by Charles D. Alexander
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