Look Away

I suggested once to a black writer
   he capitalize South.
His jaw tightened. His
   under-the-breath reply
   forced me to lean closer.

            It’s a White thing.

The Old South
The FreeWhiteandtwentyone South
The KKK South
The burnCrossesonlawns South
The Southwillriseagain South
The shootthenworddowninthestreet
   becausehespoketoaWhitewoman South

            In Dixieland where I was born…


                 Rest in Peace
                    Trayvon

leh