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While strolling after church one Sunday,
my bronze skin highlighted by my white suit,
I came upon an old man,
who, with Bible in hand,
upon seeing me, spit on my boot.

I know I should have been offended,
but curiosity shifted my mind.
I was sure this man did not know me,
so an answer for This act,
I must find.

At first he ignored my questions
But my persistence to know wore him down.
He grimaced, then his hair rose
as he looked down his nose,
"how dare you bug me boy,"
he frowned!

"I'm sorry to bother you," I replied,
"really I am,
but I must know why you were so rude.
I can't quite recall
doing anything at all,
that would warrant
such a bad attitude!"

"Boy...I come from a land
of  "strange fruit" and moon shine,
where traditions are held onto strong.
Where change and acceptance
are banned, and if detected,
removed with aggressive extremes."

All hail tradition and ignorance!
All hail cultural indifference!
All praise the church of segregated small thinkers
who want all the benefits
but none of the neighbors
unless they belong to their "Klan".
All witness the ugliest business
as created by the smallest of men.

© Copyright 2006 John M Swails
____________________________

 

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Author notes

In Tribute to Langston Hughes

 

 

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Comments

1 - 11 of 11

  • PhantomsAngel87 Greeters member
    April 16

    Edit | Reply
    Profoundly sad ... I have heard of the KKK (who hasn't?) and I have never ever believed they are sane

    A fantastic but painful piece mate

    ♥
    Stay safe
    ~Manda


  • micol
    September 15, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    I miss the carefully constructed opening stanzas; the last couple seem to take over the poem and tell me what to think rather than helping me feel/experience/understand. The deferred rhyme in the opening stanzas creates a sense of anticipation; that sense dissipates by the end of the poem. There is much that the poem has to say; could it say those things more through image and emotion? This could indeed be a powerful piece.

    . Rewarded 8


  • Midnight-In-Love
    September 15, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    I think I understand this one, because I myself know some of those religious people who are so stuck up, so holier-than-thou. I can't stand them either, thank you for writing this, some people really need to see it!

    . Rewarded 4


    • johnswails
      January 23
      Edit | Reply
      I'm sorry sweety but this piece was not about religious people. This piece was about bigots, specifically the Klu Klux Klan, who claim to be a religion but in fact are wolves in sheeps clothing.

      Thanks for the comments though.

      One Love,

      John

  • eternal-devotion
    September 14, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    This is very powerful.

    My first impression is of the depth with which you write. Emotionally I can see myself there on that sidewalk and feel the astonishment that act must have caused. This is not a bit awkward and needs no changes. The title is perfect and the first line cou;ldn't have been better. The last line really sums this up in the most effective way possible. My favorite part is all of this as I don't seem to be able to choose any part over any other no matter how many times I read this. Very well done.

    . Rewarded 8


  • PassionsPromise gold member
    August 6, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Well penned i loved this. Prejudice is seen evryday and now touching the lives of the little ones. Making a stand is important.
    Beautiful etry congrats on silver

  • White Snow Princess gold member
    August 6, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    Thanks for your entry

    I like your poem. I like that you told how he showed that ignorance. Its a really good poem children to learn about what is wrong about prejudices.

    God Bless you
    Ashley

  • nightorchid
    December 28, 2006
    Edit | Reply

    poignant

    this is a fantastic poem highlighting the smallness of some peoples minds. Maybe they should be struck blind for just one day and maybe they would find that some of the people they actually like are a different colour than they thought!
    I want everyone to read this beautiful poem...


  • Desire gold member
    December 22, 2006

    Edit | Reply

    Wow-

    Bless Your Heart for sharing this Masterpiece my Friend
    Such Powerful words You have shared which brightens
    the most solemn of days~

    ~*~

    All hail tradition and ignorance!
    All hail cultural indifference!
    All praise the church of segregated small thinkers
    who want all the benefits
    but none of the neighbors
    unless they belong to their "Klan".
    All witness the ugliest business
    as created by the smallest of men.

    ~*~

    Now the last two lines just brought forth a huge smile~ Seeeeeeeee~
    Thank You for sharing Your talent busy bee~
    You keep that ink flowing~~
    and Your Creative juices going

    Many blessings to You!
    Best wishes too
    and much love~ Desire~*~


  • poetryality silver member
    December 16, 2006

    Edit | Reply

    EXQUISITE!

    "While strolling after church one Sunday,
    my bronze skin highlighted by my white suit,"

    What a visual image I get from these two lines. They make me smile. Your stamp of Langston is one of my favorite. I own these stamps, haven't used one yet. Hopefully someday my grandchildren will benefit from their appreciated value.


    This stanza sounds like a mixture of Billie, Langston, Zora, Dunbar, and many more Harlem Renaissance greats;

    "Boy...I come from a land
    of "strange fruit" and moon shine,
    where traditions are held onto strong.
    Where change and acceptance
    are banned, and if detected,
    removed with aggressive extremes."

    Loved that to the extremes. Sounds like a few of my elder ancestors who refused to be called anything but "colored" and took great issue with integration because segregation at least allowed them to own their own and run it as they saw fit.

    BRILLIANT WORK POET!


    Always & Forever ♥

    Renee

  • Yvette Champ gold member
    December 16, 2006

    Edit | Reply

    Excellent

    An excellent piece of poetry,well written,imagery good,emotion felt,profound and speaking with the voice of reason re the that which is unreasonable.
    I liked the way the bronze skin highlighted the white suit,darn creative and clever way to portray that it is that we wish to see that is seen,ergo a racist would see the dark skin and not notice the suit and a non racist person would think how well the white complimented the caramel skin.
    I noticed the bible that the man held,indeed it amazes me those that profess to be christian and hold the bible as a battering ram in a deluded and unchristian way.
    I am not well read,must confess am unfamilar with Langston Hughes but this must be a worthy tribute.I am not caramel skinned,but I am not racist,I named my son after Martin Luther King for I admire the way I learned that he sought to heal the race division by peaceful words and promoting peaceful protest.
    Let no man be judged by the colour of his skin,but by the colour of his sin,that is my quote and used to be on my author page with other thoughts til I stripped it bare.
    Poetryality will like this piece,she writes thought provoking,societal and spiritual writes too,if you haven't yet discovered her you would not be disappointed upon checking her out.
    Well done with this,love and light,Yvette

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