by James Horner
Copyright 2020
after Mwatabu S. Okantah’s “driving while black”
When I told Ronald what I do when I’m not hiking,
I said I write and read poems.
He sent me this poem of his.
“Ronald and Ronny”
“I moved ’cause I needed the space.
Some said I abandoned my race.
North Philly was cramping my style.
Macungie would do for a while.
Ronny my son could flourish in peace
Without the need to flourish a piece.
Driving while black
Under attack
Death all too real
That’s how I feel.
Here we hike for bison and deer,
Not caged in the zoo, running clear.
The deer have their hunting season;
Not for me, no rhyme or reason.
So I wander at my pleasure:
only Nature takes my measure.
Driving while black
Under attack
Death all too real
That’s how I feel.
Six shots rang out of Lehigh Mall.
Stopped in my tracks, dreading the call.
Ronny’s ok, locked down inside.
Just like Philly, nowhere to hide.
Why did we move? Guns everywhere.
Abandoned the ‘hood. Safe nowhere.
Driving while black
Under attack
Death all too real
Next door, Lehigh-Carbon College
calls Ronny to deeper knowledge.
Music’s his thing, engineering
to make his tunes pioneering.
A day without music, Ronny sings,
is hardly worth living with all the stings.
Driving while black
You don’t know jack
Danger is real
That’s how I feel.”
