A poem to honor a man that used to come in Bezazian Library in late 90s.

Latest

While leaning against a urine-stained & crumbling wall,
Hard up against the El tracks,
His heart stopped.
Softly he sank down to the pavement
Clasping to his chest
A plastic bag that held
All his worldly goods.
His death was witnessed
By the velvet darkness
As his stubbled chin was brought to rest
On the broken glass
Of someone else’s prayer.
Tell me how not one of us
Witnessed his passing
How did we miss that soul
Slipping away from its broken temple?
We wept no tears of joy
At his release,
We did not sorrow
At his absence from us.
How could it be
That not one of us witnessed his passing
Yet all of Heaven
Came out to greet him?

– Karen Harvey-Turner

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Chicagoans Vow to Fight Trump’s Attack on Immigrant Workers

Chicagoans are showing that they plan to resist President Trump’s plans to mount attacks on immigrants.

A Mass Movement Will Rise to Defend Immigrants, Says Activist

Right now there is no coordinated national mass movement to defend immigrants, but there will be, says human rights activist Camilo Pérez-Bustillo in this interview with the People's Tribune.

L.A. Fires: Climate Campaigners Say ‘Big Oil Did This’

Climate campaigners said blame for the catastrophe in L.A. ultimately lies with the mega-profitable oil and gas giants that have spent decades  knowingly fueling the crisis.

Collective Defense of Immigrant Rights is Key, Says Advocate

In this interview with the People's Tribune, Pedro Rios, director of the AFSC's US/Mexico Border Program, describes the likely shape of Trump's planned immigration crackdown, and how people are organizing to resist it.

US Workers Won Key Victories in 2024, But Hard Fight Lies Ahead

With strikes and the threat of strikes, workers did more than forestall concessions: They gained ground. With Trump, expect attacks on unions, safety regulations, and the very idea of labor law..

More from the People's Tribune