A part of history died today. She

was embedded in pages of

books for many years. Even the

ink cried all over her casket, but

the tears smeared the lifeless

page.

History died her dignity into

a testimony, but there was

something different about

this funeral.

A part of history was born

today, she cried when she

escaped the womb. There is

so much for her to learn.

Her mother hopes that

through her death her pages

will live in the present and

her past will always be

remembered.

J. Smith Jr.
Black Poets Society