Welcome to the Poetry Corner, another feature on my blog, where inspiring and aspiring poets are welcome to share their poems.
"My Soul is Troubled," was written as a tribute to Trayvon Martin. Read, enjoy and feel free to share this poet's words.
“My Soul is
Troubled”
By Ben Mitchell
From the landing of the first Slave Ship at
Jamestown, to the historical election of an African-American male as President
of this country, my soul has withstood the pain of a people.
A people not seeking the chance of a better way of
life like most immigrants coming to America.
Not a people voluntarily coming in search of the so
called ‘American Dream.’
And not even as a people looking to escape the
tyrannical rule of King George of England.
My soul is troubled because my ancestors unwillingly,
forcibly, and reluctantly came to a totally unfamiliar world against their
will.
My people were tortured, beaten, taken, bought,
sold, trade, separated, raped, castrated, lynched and killed all in the name of
God, and pursuit of liberty for a chosen few.
The forefathers of this taken, supposed discovered
land founded by one Christopher Columbus, had the audacity to write down on
paper, ‘All men are created equal.’
This was of course until they realized if the people
literally believed them, they would be liars. Why is that? Oh, that’s right; each one of them had
slaves!
How ironic it would have been to make such a
declaration under the guise of equality.
No problem for the wise forefathers of the chosen
few. Men of color are classified three-fifths of a man. Therefore they cannot be included in our
chosen few society.
Surely you see how my soul became troubled and I’m
confident the souls of my ancestors as well.
I think constantly of all of my many heroes of just
the last sixty years, who taught me well.
First and foremost, I must thank my Mom and Dad who
brought me into what they hoped and dreamed would be a better world.
Aspirations no different than Tracy Martin and
Sybrina Fulton had for one Trayvon Martin.
I must acknowledge my mentors and teachers, Mrs.
Rudella Smith, Pleas Meeks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Frederick
Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois and the lovely Dr. Maya
Angelou.
And of course many others that taught, inspired,
praised, corrected, encouraged, supported, uplifted and befriended me.
My soul cannot help but be troubled, when I think of
my own three sons, two grandsons, my nephews, cousins, which all have the
potential to become the next Trayvon Martin.
Yes, my soul is indeed troubled in this world of
pain and strife in which we desperately try to survive and make a difference…
Dear Lord, my earnest prayer is that you would ease
my troubled soul, deliver me of my pain, remove my hurt, take away my
bitterness, and eliminate my anger…
Help us to always remember Trayvon in way that
honors him and of course glorifies you!
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Remember if you have a story, a poem, or a book that you would like featured on the Muriel's Peach Pit to contact me at georgiapeach30030@gmail.com. Thank you for your visit to my blog and Happy Reading to all.
