"Mother dear, may I go downtown
Instead of out to play,
And march the streets of Birmingham
In a Freedom March today?"
"No, baby, no, you may not go,
For the dogs are fierce and wild,
And clubs and hoses, guns and jails
Aren't good for a little child."
"But, mother, I won't be alone.
Other children will go with me,
And march the streets of Birmingham
To make our country free."
"No baby, no, you may not go
For I fear those guns will fire.
But you may go to church instead
And sing in the children's choir."
She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair,
And bathed rose petal sweet,
And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands,
And white shoes on her feet.
The mother smiled to know that her child
Was in the sacred place,
But that smile was the last smile
To come upon her face.
For when she heard the explosion,
Her eyes grew wet and wild.
She raced through the streets of Birmingham
Calling for her child.
She clawed through bits of glass and brick,
Then lifted out a shoe.
"O, here's the shoe my baby wore,
But, baby, where are you?"
Notes
(On the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963)
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
-
-
-
ballad of birmingham
From guest brittnay (contact)
the four little angels that died in 1963 from the bombing of the church -
-
Shocking Poem
From guest Sunil Mehta (contact)
Very thought provoking poem. I'm studying this poem together with Ballad of the Landlord by Langston Hughes for my Degree in Education Studies and English @ Wolverhampton University UK. There is a overt current of opressiveness that had taken place over the Negroid population. Very heart rendering and sad. The first (the above) being about the church bombing in Birmingham and the second being about what grew out of conditions in New York City’s Harlem in the 1930’s. Interesting how those with positions of authority around that time, bore consequence to become violent toward the black population. -
ballad of birmingham TEARS
From guest CIERA hall (contact)
Wow that was so sad when i started singin i didn't even no i was crying.
SO SAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
-
-
tears
From guest zamyra lawrence (contact)
that is a shame on wha happend...i been studying this situaton for months and i tear up just thinking about it....i been reciting this poem for months and i just shake everytime.. -
L0vely
From guest vampiress drapplie (contact)
i declaim that when i was only grade 3 because of that i w0n the c0mpititon. i was declared as the over all elementary champion but actually i felt sadness at that moment because even i'm not yet a mother i know how sad to be left by your bel0ved -
-
Wonderful
What on earth can you say when you read the truth in print.Sadly today
we hear of other Church's being
destroyed.The images so poignantly
penned just wonderful Aries -
Very Sad!
I once portrayed a young girl in a monologue called "Black Sunday" which depicted a young girl who witnessed;
" the dogs are fierce and wild,
And clubs and hoses, guns and jails"
The fact that in those times, the church was not a safe haven is horrifying. I am sure no parent would ever consider sending their child into unsafe places. The Church and many lives were defiled on that day. I was only nine when this horrible event took place. I can remember my Mom making us watch as the news broke in on all local stations. This indeed was a sad day in the fight for civil rights.
I am not surprised that Dudley Randall painted an exact portrait with a gentle pen. Excellent work!
Renee
"
-
I don’t even want to imagine the shock and horror of losing a child; it would be an unbearable loss. The people who were responsible preyed, like vultures, on the beliefs of people like the Mother, who sent her child to Church so that he would be safe. I wonder how many parents actually did that on this terrible day and lived with the guilt for the rest of their lives. The poet brings home the tragedy of this child dying in the one place he should have been 100% safe.
-
-
-
for Rita K
Please read the comments below, there is also a note at the base of the poem to tell you where it was situated. Search the internet and you will find out much more. Von ~ Oldpoetry
-
-
Such a moving poem it brang tears to my eyes.
Truley an amazing piece of work here. It held emotion and is from the heart. This write is just execptional. I liked it very much indeed. I feel the mothers sadness. -
<3
From guest Ashton. (contact)
This song is fantastic. Ever since my English teacher played it in our class i have listened to it continuously. I LOVE it, it is so sad and unbelievable. [: <3 :[ -
.........
From guest Hannah (contact)
I love this poem... When I 1st heard it..it made me shed tears... This tells you that people will not like you in life but don't let racism bring you down just love your self for who you are!!!!!!! -
This poignant piece highlights the futility of most terrorist attacks. Terrorists hit the wrong people and strengthen the opposition to their cause.
I like the way the poet emphasise the child's innocence (and by extension all other victims) and the final, unanswered, question in the poem brings it to a sudden conclusion in the same ways as lives were concluded that day. -
....
From guest Kandas (contact)
i really like this poem it has so much depth. Im only 15 but i feel as if i can feel the pain that those people had to go through. -
-
Still as moving
From guest Roger Randle (contact)
I am just old enough to remember the reportage of this savage and tragic event - I was 13 at the time. My emotions then - puzzlement - how could we behave like this and call ourselves civilised? On reading this though the full impact of the event comes home to me now. I wonder whether we have learned the lessons this poem starkly portrays. Out of the awful violence perpetrated in the name of what we believe to be right we injure those who are most innocent and most deserving of our consideration - and at the same time destroy any hope for the future - for Birmingham read Gaza or Iraq or Kashmir or any other place... -
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 6 of 6
