Happiness In All Things Grey Poem by Mark Heathcote

Russell Lee's photo 1939
Simply shows a young negro African-American man drinking water
From a 'coloured' wall-mounted-fountain in a streetcar terminal in Oklahoma City,
A young black man, he's just standing there simply passing the time of day,
Between two ordinary everyday objects, he grew up alongside.
... Two every day ordinary tin-plate signs.
The right sign points Right & simply say 'WHITE MEN COLORED MEN'
The left sign simply says much the same pointing Left
'WHITE WOMEN COLORED WOMEN'
These two arrows oppositely opposed show we've reached a crossroads.
Here & now at this precise time & moment there is a meeting point a merger
Here where there was no concord, no equality, there is now fresh hope.
The man himself seems nonchalant, unconcerned about his future-
His destiny is now firmly in his own two hands to command.
'Where there was black & white segregation' there is now, happiness in all things Grey.