Poems of Hope

Black History Month 2022: February 21 – Jericho Brown

Feb 21, 2022

In celebration of Black History Month, this week I’m sharing poems about the Black experience that encourage me to keep practicing hope.

Peace & Blessings,
Marcie Alvis-Walker

INVOCATION

Morning, afternoon, and evening, Spirit, please enter.

Photo by Stan Wayman/Time Life Pictures, Florida 1956.

FOREDAY IN THE MORNING

By Jericho Brown

My mother grew morning glories that spilled onto the walkway
toward her porch
Because she was a woman with land who showed as much by giving it
color.
She told me I could have whatever I worked for. That means she was
an American.
But she’d say it was because she believed
In God. I am ashamed of America
And confounded by God. I thank God for my citizenship in spite
Of the timer set on my life to write
These words: I love my mother. I love black women
Who plant flowers as sheepish as their sons. By the time the blooms
Unfurl themselves for a few hours of light, the women who tend them
Are already at work. Blue. I’ll never know who started the lie that we
are lazy,
But I’d love to wake that bastard up
At foreday in the morning, toss him in a truck, and drive him under
God
Past every bus stop in America to see all those black folk
Waiting to go work for whatever they want. A house? A boy
To keep the lawn cut? Some color in the yard? My God, we leave
things green.

LITANY

She Who Is Faithful to the Foreday-in-the-Morning Workers—
Help us to grow things.
Help us to give the land color.
Help us to discover what it means to be American.
Help us to have our reasons to believe in God.
Help us to us to not be ashamed.
Help us to be confounded by you.
Help us thank you.
Help us to love all mothers.
Help us to love all Black women.
Help us to plant our shy sons.
Help us to unfurl as we bloom.
Help us to work.
Help us to not lie or speak falsehoods.
Help us to love and speak truth.
Help us to see all working, waiting, wanting Black folk.
Help us to leave things green.

Amen.