“Dear Rosa”

by Janet Henry

How serene you appear

In pictures shown throughout the years

On the bus, in the jail and every one since then

Our own black Madonna, beautiful, beautiful black woman

You sat regally in you seat as if going for a Sunday ride

Not showing a hint of fear for the horrifying things you knew would come

With dignified gentility and pride

You remained sitting on that seat

And with that brave act

You became the mother of a revolution

Which, thank God, you were allowed to nurture for years and years

And when it came time to part

The whole world paid homage