A Tear in Harlem

Ever does the day go that a tear grows wide in Harlem

Our men have abandoned us far and wide they have left

Disgraced demeaned we still try to stand with some kind of grace

Courage we need for all we have is each other thru the storm

We are nothing now to them is it not true?

But a mockery a jest to make fun of with the others

Despised for our strength we are nothing for our men have left us

Viewed as an oddity an educated black woman is despised by our own and none will hear her or her pleas for acceptance

She speaks soft and with care wisdom and still no acknowledgment for her giving heart

She speaks loud with threats and violence to survive the brutal attacks that follow her close, wide and far

Fear twists deep wide in our souls for we have nobody to call our own

Who cares for us now we asks we asks as we go about our way full of fear and anger

All we can think of is why why why when our love overflows rich as wine

We are black and we want our true worth to be known that we are together even apart we are together even apart as we love we love we love

None seems to understand that we are people people of every shade and we feel feel deep deep as a well of cool blessed water that has no end

We are alone and yet together for we care we care we care about the all and not just about ourselves for we are A Tear in Harlem

By

Felicia McCaw