Poetry: A Letter From the Past
by Helen Collier
Living in the land of the Klan
There were no warnings that they were coming
Millions of stars filled the night sky.
Not a cloud in sight.
Nothing prepared us for their coming.
In the dead of night, their violence exploded; our lives were the
target of their destruction.
Each way we turned, they defeated us. They burned our homes.
They killed our babies, though we struggled to save them.
What could we do when there was no one willing to help us?
When their carnage was over, they left the dead behind.
Among the horrors, reminding us of their coming, was a torn white
sheet hanging from the branch of a tree where death had taken its
bounty.
Helen Collier is a prolific writer of Magical Realism and Science Fiction as well as prose. "Going
Back to Africa" is one of many subjects Collier tackles. The Unexpected and the Unexpected II
When the Face of America Changed are titles she's written about race in America.
Featured Image: Original photo by Vadim Axel/Shutterstock.com. Edited by Emerald staff.
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Before you move on to the next story …
The South Seattle Emerald™ is brought to you by Rainmakers. Rainmakers give recurring gifts at any amount. With around 1,000 Rainmakers, the Emerald™ is truly community-driven local media. Help us keep BIPOC-led media free and accessible.
If just half of our readers signed up to give $6 a month, we wouldn’t have to fundraise for the rest of the year. Small amounts make a difference.
We cannot do this work without you. Become a Rainmaker today!
