Ebony Goddess Poem by Dorothy (Alves) Holmes

She boarded bus No.4
Face carved in ebony,
Tall - lean
And we tried not to stare
As she laughed and talked to no one...
We exchanged glances with her in our minds,
Glancing at each other with un-proclaimed puzzlement,
Who is this ebony lady with keen features
Who bantered with self.
Intermittently quiet, then a flash of white teeth
And laughter or a scowl!
Flashing large dark eyes at no one,
Tall and lean ebony goddess
Without cosmetic glow,
Orange wrapped head,
Nails of tinted blue,
Matching nothing.
She clutched her books and I wondered if for her
Schooling came hard or perhaps her brilliant mind
Had snapped under some untold strain.
Quizzical I, envied her not for her slender statue
Or gentle blackness but thought for one fleeting
Moment it might be nice to laugh out loud
And not care or be aware
That all around you make muffle sounds
But dare not reproach you.
She got off, mid-block 6th near Franklin,
Walking proud
Still laughing and holding a private
Conversation with herself.

Dorothy Alves Holmes
A Poet Who Loves To Sing

written 1977