Four Generations

Four generations now gone Lying in a field brown and stark Abandoned by so many who loved them New generations living far from the heart Four generations all departed Nothing left but cracked and faded stone Weeds growing high with every rain Untended markers guarding ashes and bone Take a lonely walk in the winter Stop for those who plowed that ground first Walk among the spirits and the souls In the field beside the Mission Baptist Church Four generations long released Into a world no one but them can know A world that tomorrow only dreams of Or a world where no one wants to go Four generations soon forgotten Unless someone has a special prayer to make Praying that something better waits ahead If the souls in that field have a say Take a lonely walk in the springtime Write down the names of those lost in the search Leave a flower from a stranger’s garden In the field beside the Mission Baptist Church Four generations with my name Lifetimes of blood that flow within Soon I will walk among these stones To share that ground where faith begins