And so farewell Odetta Holmes
another rousing voice of freedom
kind to me you were, invited me
to your
uptown New York home
took my song to China
for women everywhere
introduced me
to Mr & Mrs Belafonte in their mid-town
apartment on the occasion of Mrs Belafonte's
birthday where, wandering from the party,
as I usually do, I found the library
and the poem, "If We Must Die"
by Claude McKay
then Roscoe Lee Browne wandered in
and read, "If We Must Die", just for me,
the way it should be read
with calm, clear, defiant dignity
and now you're dead
having seen more than I have seen
knowing more than I will know
a magic woman I will remember
for the message you wore
golden on your breast
"I am"
___
Comments