A Portrait Of My Mama Poem by Almedia Knight-Oliver

Deception…the language
with ease, he spoke in tongue

Yet, the genuine gift of the Holy Spirit caused
her to dance with joy for the present of the day

The spanking new black Model T ford, first carried
her name around in big red letters—his ruse a success

Not long after, Papa took Mama for a joy ride, ended up in
city hall, and an extra wife and the first one widely known

The truth considered their nine children, unknown was truth
about the other nine- -in another home and in another town

Duplicity was papa's appealing lie
So exquisite…they made Mama cry

Mama left a heap of memories etched in my
heart...even a picture of a half-smile cast
a light in the dark and expose the concealed…



April 19,2016