The Day the Ghetto Died

 

On the day the Ghetto died

Malcolm X bowed his head

While Martin Luther King stood and cried

 

On the day the Ghetto Died

Some sat and sang a hymn

Others just sat and lied

Lied about what the white man did for them

 

On the day the Ghetto Died

Little babies ran through streets

While their mothers bowed their heads and cried

To see their children with shoes on their feets

 

On the day the Ghetto died

The bible was opened even wider

To thank the Lord for a bond to be tied

And to pray for it to be tighter

 

In front of the steeple

I sat and felt a drop of rain

I looked up despite the people

And saw Jesus rejoicing over his pain

 

The pain must have been great

For it came down like a herd of angry men

But then it stopped

And I saw the sky smile again

 

'Twas the Day the ghetto died

all the great heroes rose from the dead

to spread the knowledge they once had to hide

to the souls whose hearts now bled

 

They walked in hundreds of thousands

Wearing potato sacks

And chains and ropes

I can say this - for I was there

And in unison they sang the most beautiful hymn

 

It was one I never got to write

Because I could only listen in solemnity

It was a song that made me frown

 - one that gave me back my dignity

 

The tone sounded like it came

From the chain gang

But I couldn't be sure if it was of

Rejoice or of pain

 

I walked around my beautiful home and cried

I looked and saw that I had everything money could buy

Then realized how little I had

But my ancestors had much pride

Reviews

[Dutch Jr.]

True, this is some very powerful writing here. I like it a lot.

[deeps]

My Goodness this is powerful, deep and sad really.
I like this full of strong emotion. This is a powerful read.
I like how you indented off with - one.
Very well written here and sad.