A Strong Black Woman
 |
| Bodley, Johnny |
The start of her day always meant a
chopping hoe or a cotton sack.
chopping hoe or a cotton sack.
Minutes into her day blistered hands
aching back.
aching back.
And further on up her row, weary
knees disfiguring frown, and though her feet hurt mighty bad she was not
allowed to sit down.
knees disfiguring frown, and though her feet hurt mighty bad she was not
allowed to sit down.
A true provider even a mammy to the
master’s young’uns.
master’s young’uns.
A savior to many, a strong God
fearing black woman.
fearing black woman.
A few bounded years later the freedom
came and though she’s been a mother now twenty years, girl is still her name,
because for former slaves nothing really changed.
came and though she’s been a mother now twenty years, girl is still her name,
because for former slaves nothing really changed.
Met a fine buck who thought she was
nice, and after one thousand cotton fields later he popped the question “Will
you be my wife?” So over the broom jumped two weary but happy souls.
nice, and after one thousand cotton fields later he popped the question “Will
you be my wife?” So over the broom jumped two weary but happy souls.
A blushing bride now, but deep within
she wonders how.
she wonders how.
The turn of the century promised good
times for all, but when things were looking up she lost her big buck Joe in a
juke joint brawl.
times for all, but when things were looking up she lost her big buck Joe in a
juke joint brawl.
Her wrinkled face shows signs of hard
times, but her constant proud smile says now I’m doing just fine.
times, but her constant proud smile says now I’m doing just fine.
“Ten acres I now own!” She boasts
proudly, and on a feel good day this she tells the world quite loudly.
proudly, and on a feel good day this she tells the world quite loudly.
She has aged gracefully as she sits
beneath her old sister oak tree.
beneath her old sister oak tree.
A woman who has persevered, a woman
who is now, henceforth and forever grateful, still fine, and
who is now, henceforth and forever grateful, still fine, and
forever
free!
