Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement

Poems by Jim Williams

What Then?
A Keen for Medgar

WHAT THEN?

tear down the signs
      no dogs allowed
tear down the signs
      no niggers either
swing the wide gates
run the mad machines
      of earning
climb the high walls
open the tight halls
      of learning
be part of the mess
you can do no less
but what then
      what then
then together
tear it all down
and begin again
and this time let us
build a world for men
[Originally published in Freedomways]

A KEEN FOR MEDGAR

We sing no blues for you
      No man!
We sing no blues for you
      No man!
Blues is dead — but not you
      No man!
      Not you.
You'll always live — forever
      Always live — forever
      Wherever freedom lives
      There's where yOll are,
      Right where you are.
Blues may die — but not you
      no man! Not you!
You'll always live forever!
      and
We sing no blues for you
      No blues
For you.
[Originally published in Freedomways]