Velma and Thelma

Freeverse

Velma and Thelma
Were born in Selma
Alabama
They lived with
Their Nana
Because their mama
Died as she tried
To exercise
Her God given right
That ended her life
What she got was
A gunshot
By the law
No one saw
The brutality
And the sacrifice
For equality
So much blood
Shed
So many dead
But Martin knew
As his legacy grew
Mistakes had
Beeen made
That
Accolades
Had to be
Set aside
No time for pride
He knew deep inside
That he had
To keep his eyes
On the prize
He knew
That fallen heroes
Would not yet
Get the credit
For their sweat
Blood and tears
Their sacrifice is
Why we all are here
Velma and Thelma
Walked from Selma
To Montgomery
Unknown in history
Beaten bloodied and
Bruised
They had nothing to.
Lose and everything
To gain
They would never
See fame
No one will know
Their names
They did what they
Did not for glory
But it is time
Someone
Told their story

So on their way back
They were attacked
By the KKK
They were mad
Cause what they had
They couldn't take away
Instead the blows
To the head
Left them both dead
On the side of
The road
Their story had
To be told

Author's Note

This was imbued by the movie Selma, the untold stories of the millions that remain nameless who sacrificed their lives so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. I was a child doing the Civil Rights Movement.

Reviews

[Jerome F Knox III pseud..]

Jacob although I was young I still remember the day I ran up to the lunch counter at Woolworth to see my mom who was a waitress and how she snatched me out of the chair and yelled at me. I didn't understand what I did wrong but the look in her eyes let me know how serious the situation was. I also remember getting on the bus from the back door and drinking from colored only water fountains. Now that I am older I still sense that same type of hatred because my hair is dreaded and my hues are dark. Racial profiling is real just look at Ferguson Trayvon Martin and Jena 6. I am afraid we are digressing in lieu of progressing.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i was a teenager during those times and just couldn't understand the hate and violence towards people who were just "People."
how could that be i thought, i never understood the prejudice---but as i aged i saw how deep rooted hate is...and how some people just assume what is theirs...they feel privileged, entitled, yet no one is entitled over another human being...we are all in the mix, and hate is mixed up.

excellent write.

jacob