Sunday, February 12, 2012

Ebony Orchid


image borrowed from bing

Ebony Orchid

Cataleya was raised as a very proper
Southern belle at a time when
the coloreds had to use separate entrances,
drinking fountains and bathrooms.

Then she attended college at UCLA
during the birth pangs of civil rights,
and without the tether of inherited
racism

she discovered black lovers,
jazz, the blues, and the back
of the bus.

Glenn Buttkus

February 2012

Listed as #28 over at Magpie Tales 104

Would you like to hear the author read this poem to you?
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11 comments:

  1. Brian MillerFebruary 12, 2012 at 1:10 PM

    smiles...bet that caused quite the stir when she returned home..but good on her...nice story telling man...

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  2. Mark WindhamFebruary 12, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    Pure Scandal! :-) A good read.

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  3. Doctor FTSEFebruary 12, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    Well said. Southern Belle makes out . . . oops! Sorry! Makes good.

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  4. KayFebruary 12, 2012 at 2:44 PM

    go Cataleya!!....great read..thanks.

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  5. BarbaraFebruary 12, 2012 at 3:05 PM

    I'm with Brian about the rest of the story. You know the curse: may you live in interesting times? Well, they weren't dull.

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  6. Kay L. DaviesFebruary 12, 2012 at 6:40 PM

    Good for her!
    K

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  7. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    Whew! The back of the bus. Nice surprise ending.

    ~Shawna
    rosemarymint.wordpress.com

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  8. Kathe W.February 13, 2012 at 1:45 PM

    Excellent- I remember those grim days.

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  9. HelenFebruary 13, 2012 at 3:59 PM

    Glenn .. I really enjoyed this! And, those were the days my friend.

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  10. zongrikFebruary 14, 2012 at 1:59 PM

    how did you know this was what my college days were like

    haunting suppleness

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  11. Tess KincaidFebruary 15, 2012 at 11:29 AM

    Love the "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" thing going on here...nice write Glenn...

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