*

Somerville Poet Kevin Dua writes: “I am a history teacher in the Somerville Public Schools for three years, who takes comfort in poetry writing since college. I consider this piece a reminder of how sincerity can falter towards what the majority deems right.”

DARKER THAN RIGHT

Before summer bells,
yachting at sea,
and tots to fill a
Christmas card—
she chose a Negro.

Folks with white gates,
rope décor branches,
flew southern pride
‘til the sun rose and sat.

Jane of Dillsburg—
molded by Americana,
said grace at tables—
had aprons, a gown
hemmed in her closet.

She sang hymns,
sewed with mothers,
dolled-up for clubs—
a bring-home gal.

John, next-door over,
an Uncle Sam’s bred;
had green lineage,
foreign ventures,
titled to his name.

A tenor in choir,
sparred with boys,
wined on commercials,
and courted daughters.

First of shower season,
and firefly evenings,
had all of town glee
over Jane’s yes to John.

But before any aisles,
flora on Catholic walls,
or exchanged vows—
she fell for a Negro.

‘Twas a norm midday
in downtown café,
two strangers
with switched orders,
shared laughter…
In here’s Dillsburg,
he was nigger;
yet his smile was
the color she adored…

When the town slept,
both roamed it
‘til birds awoke;
hands always integrated…

It was hours prior
the big day;
she raced to the tracks
to meet him,
not John.

His tone faded
into the backdrop,
as a streetlight
lit the platform,
leading her to him.

A one-way departure,
set for midnight,
to elsewhere city,
was their way out.

The vibrating steel
and conductor’s call
came out the shadows
and into the station,
as just he went aboard.

The train’s smoke
drifted into the night,
as did his smile.

She chose a Negro,
faux-pas in a town
so darker than right. . .

— Kevin  Dua

*

______________________________________

To have your work considered for the LYRICAL send it to:
dougholder@post.harvard.edu