Train Ride to Hope(An Inauguration Day Poem)© J. Joy “Sistah Joy” Matthews Alford
A 7:30 A.M. train rideInaugurated by a commemorative fare cardBearing the likeness of a manWho believed in hope and changeMaybe the time had comeFor a nation whose yesterdaySpurned right at its own perilA nation that, despite dreams and visionsProclaimed before broad witness in light of dayRejected truth 'til civil disarray Dictated that only change could counter catastrophePerhaps this would be the train ride To usher that nationTo the dawn of a new day A sea of humanityLike ants, satellite images would depict dotsBlurred into huddles to become muddled massesI was proud to be one of the millionsKnowing I had neither ticket nor hope of Seeing anything more than jumbotrons I trudged onUnder the 3rd Street tunnelLoosing, early in the day, Beverly and Jayne, My comrades in armsBut I moved onThis is my hometown, I know this placePlacing phone calls of reassurance When intermittent phone service allowedI pressed onMoving from one undesignated Vantage point to anotherBoth the Blue Gate and the Silver Capital viewing areaWere inaccessibleBut how could they close The MallThe entire Mall? But my guardian angels were on it!Like the pride, yearning and desperate belief Of all who withstood the frigid coldEven the batteries of Chicky’s hand-held Neon orange radio knew not to fadeSylvia’s ungloved hand must have been frozen As she held the small prize just above our headsStanding behind me Jasmine asked if I could Move just a bit to the side So she too could hear We each prayed for a clear signalSylvia said a glove would restrict digital dexterityAs she deftly rotated the dial with precision Not chancing to miss a single word That would mark this moment in history So it was to beThis anointed neon orange electronic deviceClearly appointed by Divine providenceTo appear next to meWhether held in Sylvia’s hand or God’sDid the job of unseen jumbotrons The four of us fellowshipped and communedWe were from DC, Colorado and TexasSisters of different generations and racesSilently sharing tears as Aretha sangSharing hugs and hopes as we listenedTo introductions, oaths and speeches Believing the words we heardOn a small radio would take usBeyond Metro stops, Malls and trainsKnowing that on this day Hope had transported a people To a place where they believedThat the time for change had come
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