Joanna Gilman Hyde

today in a relentless wind
I mailed a Thank You to You
a woman with Black Hair
Black Eyes
& a Name almost the same
as Mine

You work inside
a psychiatric unit
trying to get people out
and while I was there
You made a Gesture of Insight
when I loudly declared
“I have An Announcement to make –”

from behind The Counter
where The Doctors sit
You slowly lowered
Your Right Arm
Your Gesture of Support
for Me to see
so I would lower My Voice
for The Black Doctor:
“I am The Black Jesus”

Joanna Hyde
December 20^th 2011   The Hawk   11:57 am