Beloved (For Toni Morrison)
I have just four the treasures of my spirit
Laying like doves all around my heart
In memory they soar But only I can see it
Gone, as with love since we've been torn apart
The oldest was a girl Curious of eye and gentleshe
The next was a boy Mighty
Then came along a boy who brought us laughter
And finally the babe safe in her mother's arms
And each was a joyful gift of God
But what God gives you - God can take it too
Escaping with the nestlings of my heart to swim through the ice
Across The Ohio's frozen bridge of hopes
The the sky that held the Bright Northern star
was as cold as the frigid sea
We'd rush over open fields
and hide in woods crowded with feeble trees
in fear and tears and whispered hymns and prayers
to find where some safe place might be
Dangerous bargains were entered then
Signed, with my finger the bloody pen
Scared of the smuggling men
Prayed, and then prayed again
But (still) the blood-thirsty dogs gave raging chase
My hope began to fall I couldn't save us all
Where no one would hear us call The river became a wall
What did I do?
We were too few with dreams to pursue
We couldn't push through
Judea's refuge cities had power
To shelter, shield and save,
E'en Rome had altars, 'neath whose shade
Might crouch the wan and weary slave.
But Ohio had no sacred fane,
To human rights so consecrated,
Where thou may'st shield thy hapless ones
From their darkly gathering fate.**
And so I pleaded for strength enough
to strike a blow for freedom
Oh Lord transfigure us!
Knowing we would soon be seeing heaven made my heart a shining flare
I lit a torchlight with God's flaming words and set ablaze my head of hair
Rising to the air I felt a sense of power reaching everywhere
Overcoming all that I could see The Lord's Holy Spirit used me
And, seeing the pathway my children let go their fright
Surrendering nothing they burned up their place in the night
Now they're with God surrounded by the angels
Someday I'll see my doves once again with all of the heavenly host
. . . Amen