sun shimmers in dark eyes, life stirs, myriad of dreams
a princely smile creates unstoppable joy
fourteen-years happy, bout to be in city’s ugly schemes
a beautiful child who could sing, dance, whistle and play
his mama’s tender nurturing hand
touching suit, told him, stay close to cousins, don’t stray
Emmett’s stunning mom felt dread in her yellow floral dress
Emmett boards a train to mississippi
enthusiastic, going from chicago in his handsome sunday best
after meeting his cousins, they go for candy at grocery store
he did what his mama told him, be careful
come real late, locals hammering, at Emmett’s uncle’s door
ma’am – he the one who dares to speak today in store to you
yes, she lies, tells a wild story about Emmett
woman says yes, they drag innocent Emmett, if only he knew
they haul this beautiful soul, who sets values high, this boy
black, a shroud of death, Emmett, got no luck
appalling woman with a premeditated tongue told a big story
To continue reading, please go to Hotel Masticadores. Today, on Martin Luther King’s Birthday, please take a moment to remember Emmett Till. Four days after the brutal killers of fourteen-year-old Emmett Till were acquitted, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama City bus.
“Starting in 1955, Montgomery’s Black community staged an extremely successful bus boycott that lasted for over a year. King, played a pivotal leadership role in organizing the protest. His arrest and imprisonment as the boycott’s leader propelled King onto the national stage as a lead figure in the civil rights movement.”*
*Link from NAACP Article
Congratulations 👏 A lovely tribute ❤️❤️
Thank you KK for reading this difficult piece. I truly appreciate it. Hope that you are doing well my friend and that life is being kind to you. Big hugs and love KK.
You’re welcome! I’m fine and hope the same to you. Thanks a lot!
I am so blessed I try not to complain. Food, shelter, clothing, safety and love. As we get older we learn don’t we? ❤️✨❤️
One of the many crimes against humanity this nation is guilty of. Heading over to read the rest Joni.
Thank you Nigel for your comment and for reading so very early this morning. Blessings and love from both Scott and I on this important celebration of this man, Martin Luther King who did so much for our Country and for all those who paid such a horrendous price. Have a blessed day my friend. Love Scott and Joni
Thank you Joni. It was such a sad event.. tragic and the hate continues because it serves a political purpose. So sad. How you guys have a blessed day my friend. 💜🙏
Yes, none of us can forget the hate that continues to flow throughout this world and the horrors that continue to occur. You have a blessed day as well Nigel. Big hugs and our love. ❤️
Same.to.yoi Joni. 💜🙏
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Thanks to Mich for giving me a platform in which to remind people. I wonder all the time where such hate grows from and as long as it occurs I will write about it, and grateful there is a magazine (thanks to Mich and Juan) providing a source in which to remind people of that hate and hopefully one day it will all be stilled. That is my prayer. Blessings and our love, Nigel from us both
Sombre, painful, sad but necessary poetry. Joni. The murder of Emmet Till was such a grotesque stain on America’s conscience. It’s racist history cannot be ignored and no attempts to suppress the information will succeed.
Congratulations on that little note at the bottom . I look forward to your book launch in June. 👏👏💜🙏
Yes, it seems in this Country if we don’t continue to watch the movies of these horrors we have people that want to say things like this never did really take place. Emmett Till’s death and his mother’s love for her beautiful baby is something that is horrible to think it really happened and even more horrible to look upon the facts. A phenomenon I don’t understand. Thank you for reading Nigel.
Very good poem Joni! Greetings to you both and big hugs!
Thank you Francis. I appreciate you reading and sending both of our love and hugs to you both.
You’re very welcome Joni! All the best!
I am truly honored to publish your poem on Hotel Masticadores Joni.
As we remember Martin Luther today, I hope we won’t forget what he was fighting for – a unified America and a unified world.
Amen, thank you Mich and you are so right. I am grateful for a venue like HotelMasticadores that provides a place in which to enlighten people about the horrors that continue to kill innocent men, women and children all over our world. You would think we would learn as a world to pool resources and technological innovation that will help our world continue to exist. Instead the world is intent to destroy innocent people and the earth along with it. Let’s pray the generations coming up today may make a difference. Thank you again for publishing this piece to keep eyes open and to celebrate the difference that Martin Luther King, and the Rosa Parks of our world have made. As mothers ourselves it is impossible to look in the eyes of Emmett Till’s brave mother’s eyes and imagine where she found such strength but may God bless her and her memory always. ❤️✨❤️
I admire Emmitt Till’s mother (that’s for sure) and i admire you for writing this very poweful (and difficult) piece. May we all learn to value each other regardless of color or race.
So true! RACISM IS TAUGHT. When I was very little an on an Army Base all of us kids were in the same situation, we were all moving all the time and were grateful to have friends, and I never noticed color. My first best girlfriend was named Beth, I will never forget her kindness. I had no friends and had just moved from one base to another. Her and her family loved me and provided a safe place for me. She was black and I was white but none of the kids noticed color on base. Our parents may have done some horrible things to us girls because of their illness, alcoholism, but they never taught us to be racist. My dad fought along side of men of color and growing up I never heard a racist word on that base or in our home either. I can’t say what happened in the world of the men that lived there outside of our home except for my friend’s Beth’s family because I couldn’t go into anyone’s house. I snuck into Beth’s house for safety. She had a “normal” family. It wasn’t until we moved off of base that I even knew that people were treated differently. I remember crying at home about the things I saw and heard at school.
Nice. Congratulations, Joni.
Thank you so much Tim. No fancy words or metaphors for this piece just simple words to describe this horror that occurred to someone’s child. Thank you so much for reading.
(This is the comment I posted over at Hotel)
This is poetry that shakes you to the very core. Brutal, unyielding, horrific, and gut-wrenching. And it’s all true…and what an unforgivable sin this is on America’s conscience. I’ve read about Emmett Till, but even so, I learned even more through reading your poem and the accompanying notes. I have no words to describe the horror. I try to put myself in this young kid’s shoes and it’s impossible to imagine human beings visiting this kind of evil on another human. And this racist hatred still survives. I had no knowledge regarding black babies being used as alligator bait. The savagery of the human soul appears endless. I marvel at the strength of Emmett’s mother insisting on an open-casket funeral so people could see what really happened to her son…and yet, here we are, decades later, and not much has really changed.
I’ve lived in the American South at a couple of points in my life (South Carolina, Louisiana), and I always felt there was something “off” about those places even in the 21st century. Remnants of past hatred still linger in the rancid minds and brackish hearts of many white people who populate the South and Midwest. Not all people are racist, but it only takes one to destroy someone’s life.
This is necessary reading for every citizen of this country, Joni. You have my complete respect for your fearlessness in writing this piece. Would that everyone were courageous enough to stand up and speak out and change the world for the better.
I am so grateful you read my piece Mike. This piece has no fancy metaphors or creative comparisons on purpose. It is in very simple rhyme and rhythm the atrocities that met an incredibly beautiful young teenager that met an unspeakable, brutal, and completely horrific death. The part about the skinning of African-American babies does appear to be true, as I found many other references about this practice, and the fear that the women who knew about this man would hide in the woods with their babies. I appreciate so much your kind comment. This is not my normal style of writing. Also, I have to mention that the last two pieces that I read that you wrote I fountain completely intimidating they were so amazing. I was moved beyond my core by your honesty, and by your vividness and your feelings. You have an amazing gift, my friend, and anyone who publishes you are fortunate to have you on their pages. Looking forward to your next piece. I was glad to see you on, I believe it was gobblers. I hope to see you riding and publishing more. You may enjoy also reading someone by the name of Holly, who goes by house of hearts. ❤️. All we can do is hope that our world learns the word humanity because even today, it doesn’t appear that we know the meaning of the word. Sending you my great respect for your talent and appreciation again for reading my peace and your comment. Of course, you are right about much of the south.
Beautifully written, Joni. ❤
Bless you Tim and thank you so much my dear friend. Sending you love and blessings.
I think one reason this hits so hard is due to its simplicity of style. It seems to come from such a deep place, too, and there’s so much pain. You possess a golden quill, Joni, dipped in the magical ink of your heart. Everything you write is transcendent. 🙂 And thank you for your kind words. I’m sort of stuck right now as far as writing goes (writer’s block) but I’m pressing onward. The words will come eventually.
Well you are very gracious my friend and I am flattered. I get stuck too and it can’t be forced for me. The words will come my friend and each time they do it is a gift for those who read it. I feel you are like a kindred spirit. Again, thank you for your kind words and may we make a difference when the words to come. Blessings and love ❤️ Joni
Powerful and important poem, Joni!
Thank you so much Dawn. Hard one to read. Thank you for your feedback, I admire your bravery and standing up for your rights at a dangerous time. It takes lots of courage. Bless your heart, hugs and love, Joni
It is so sad to read about racism and the cruelty of it all. Unfortunately, in my country, we can also share many of these stories that’s so horrific, and relates to these horrible atrocities. Thank you Joni for this touching and descriptive piece of poetry. You are gifted and always beautifully connects emotions and feelings to us the reader. ❤️
Thank you so much for reading Henrietta and for your beautiful comment. Sending you love, gratitude, hugs and blessings for you and your family always.
This always makes me mad and sad!
It is a very disturbing piece and a horrible part of history to write about. Emmett Till’s mother was so strong and that event was so offensive to everyone as it should have been that it lead the true beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks did not give up her sit and Dr. Martin Luther King led the 13 month strike and that led to him being put into prison and things finally started changing. I think I cried for her for two days, I can’t imagine a mother going through something like that and I imagine as a mother you felt the same thing. Hope your son got into the team and school he wanted and you are all doing well. Sending love and hugs my friend. Joni
Joni this makes my heart ache! That poor bby boy and his family. I couldn’t bring myself to watch the movie because I would have nightmares.
Thank you Joni, he is all settled into Virginia Tech! Yayyyyyyyy
Yea, this is wonderful information Belladonna, I am so happy for you and for him. What a blessing. He was going for a full football scholarship (a full ride) I believe. How wonderful. How often do you visit him? Remember we are just an hour away from that college. Big hugs and love, Joni
How awesome would that be if we were able to meet. We just dropped him off and will be going back once he is all settled into the football program. He’s been going nonstop last week and this week.
We will have to go to a game together. I think it would be really fun. It can get very cold here as you know but we have had two beautiful days. Yes I would love to meet you and your family. College football is the best to watch. I am so grateful he got his scholarship and got on the team, what a blessing you all must be so grateful. Big hugs and love, Joni
That will be great!!!!!!! I love to meet you and have you come to the game. I will definitely let you know his schedule so you can pick which home game works for you.
We would love that. The weather is already warming up too. That would be fun and get us out of the house. Sounds wonderful my friend. Please do send his schedule. Hope he is doing well there and he is enjoying the college. Bless your heart as you are probably missing him! Let me know. Sending my love and hugs, Joni
Congratulations on your powerful poem that speaks to our hearts raises awareness. Your words always paint beautiful pictures and lessons to see the light through the dark❣️
Thank you so much Cindy. I really appreciate it my friend. This was a hard piece to write and it was so raw, no fancy metaphors or lines just the truth about how this beautiful young man was murdered for going to the store to get a piece of candy with his cousins. Thank you Cindy for reading, I know it is not easy and as mother’s we have to try and imagine the courage it took to do what Emmett Till’s mother did at the funeral. Blessings to you Cindy. I was sorry to hear about your hearing, I read it in a comment of Mike’s blog. I hope your hearing aids are helpful. Love, hugs and blessings to you and your beautiful family. I hope that you get to spend lots of time with the babies. Joni
You’re very welcome, Joni! I can only imagine. Nothing can prepare a mom for the heartbreak of the loss of a child. I can’t imagine and yet, my aunt had to get the call that her son, my cousin was murdered in front of his home by a gang member who was 11 years old. A stab in the heart in the exact place brought an end to his life. The courage of a mother is undeniable and the love takes us to new heights imaginable. Thank you Joni; my grand-babies are gifts an angels I’m so blessed to experience. Oh thanks so much Joni about my hearing.. It is a pain but I’m grateful to have the hearing aides working. Congrats again on your book coming soon!❣️❣️❣️
Oh I am so sorry to here about your cousin. What a horrible story Cindy and I can’t tell you how sorry I am for you, and your aunt I can’t even imagine. I don’t think anyone ever gets over the death of their child. Give those babies a big hug and kiss for us. Sending lots of love, hugs and prayers for your beautiful family always Cindy! Thank you so much for reading.
Thank you so very much, Joni. It’s such a pain you never get over. awww I will they are the best.. always my pleasure and thank you too my friend❣️
I will do so today my friend. I have been incredibly busy since the move. We have been here six months which is no excuse I know but I am going to be in WordPress much more. An enormous congratulations on your nomination for Poet of the Year. You have worked hard and I am very happy for Francisco as well. You should be very proud my friend. Hugs and love, Joni
Joni, I made my comment on Hotel but I want to tell you here…Wow, this is a masterpiece of that era..not so long ago, our own Dark Ages of the USA. Will talk to you soon..
Thank you for your kind comment my dear friend. So nice of you to have read my piece as you have been so busy. I hope one day that things will be like in your beautiful new series, all color is a mixture of life and love. Bless you my dear friend, love you bunches and bunches, Joni
Oh it’s very good, it is both poetic and very storytelling at the same time. Bravo!
Take care mlle joni, have fun!
How kind of you to read me Myriam. I am going to take some time tomorrow and read you. I never knew how much work was involved in getting everything ready to market a book. My publisher got my timeline to me and a lot of work to do. I am so blessed to have decided to write to some experts on the subject of ACOA’s for some endorsements for my book. I also wrote Dr. Claudia Black who was the pioneer in developing the characteristics and issues that follow Adult Children of Alcoholics, I had no expectations because it is a form people can fill out if they want her to lecture to other doctors about ACOAs. She was my hero when I was in my early 20’s. Her book, “It Will Never Happen To Me,” sold 2 million books right away and started a path for so many young women and men like myself. She was actually the first person to get back to me with such an amazing endorsement about my book. I feel very blessed. I know you are busy and I love your work Myriam I am honored that you have taken time to read me. Thank you. Sending love and kisses to you!
It is a fabulous news, you must be thrilled to have the endorsement and recognition. I am very happy for you. Your hard work paying off. That is wonderful.
My mom family head several problem with alcohol. It destroy many lives, and make for many psychological and physical scars… at least she did not reproduce that pattern in her own family, but she did reproduce other ones.
In anyway, it’s always a pleasure reading you. Do not rush in reading back, I don’t write much lately.
Have beautiful weekend and take care of you mlle Joni 🫶🙏🌹
I am so sorry to hear that your mom had problems truly. It hurts me just knowing that and I think I know what you are saying. So sorry but look at who you are today, I consider us both heros, I truly did. We survived and get to change the world our own way.
Big hugs and many blessings, dearest Myriam hugs and kisses Joni
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Sending love and hugs your way dear Joni 💌