Civil Rights

60 Years Later / After the Internment Camps


They were our neighbors
Torn from our community
How could this happen

How could this happen
Nurseries and barber shops
Sold at bargain rates

Sold at bargain rates
“Please, take the horse and chickens”
And the fields left fallow

And the fields left fallow
Crying for children’s laughter
Young lovers’ meeting

Young lovers meeting
Near barbed wire, guard towers
Boredom and hot dust

Boredom and hot dust
Faded memories.  At last
Soft voices speaking

Soft voices speaking
To those who did not witness
Utter disbelief

Utter disbelief
It will not happen this time
They are our neighbors

– Adelle Foley

 

Categories: Civil Rights, History, Poetry