By: Angeli R. Rasbury
Choo-choo
choo-choo
choo-choo
Train's coming bound for freedom
Everybody's welcome
No tickets needed
Just get get get get on board
Train's coming bound for justice
Everybody's welcome
No tickets needed
Just get get get get on board
The doors opened
George saw the woman he cried out for before his final breath
"Mama. Mama, I'm through," he had cried
dying under 90 pounds of pressure in prone position
handcuffed behind back strong like his ancestors from work work working
He ran into her soft pillowy waiting arms, flab hanging like he remembered
She held him like she did
After spankings for disobeying
when he hurt from break ups
"Why mama
Why we still need train for freedom, for justice?
Mama rubbed the beautiful neck Derek Chauvin knelt on
9 minutes 29 seconds
hands in pockets,
piercing eyes saying to the small group of non-violent onlookers
Go ahead
Make my day give me a reason to kill you
"Baby, trains been traveling for 400 years searching for angels
the compassionate among us who need to come on home to be with
the 1 in 1 million mothers
forgiving fathers
wondrous wives
headstrong harmonious husbands again
"Why me, Mama. I didn't get to say bye to my baby."
"You hush now.
Why not you
You see her
She knows you're here with me
She knows you are with her
in her heart heavy now from missing you
Don't you worry
With time with love
laughter
long walks with her mama and uncles, your brothers
her heart will be happy again
You hear me?"
"Yes ma'am"
Mama grabbed George's hands
"Come, my son. Come
Right now we got to go meet people who know how to get freedom and justice in courtrooms
The angels among us been on trains bound for freedom, for justice a long long time
Come now let me introduce you to the master conductor Harriet Tubman
and some of the greatest conductors since she made her freedom trips
Dr. King
Brothers Malcolm Medgar, Bayard, Thurgood and Charles
Sisters Rosa, Coretta, Betty and Ella
Welcome home, son"
"I missed you, Mama"
"I missed you too"
"I love you, Mama"
"I love you too"
"We gon be alright
This train's bound for freedom
This train's bound for justice
Everybody's welcome
No tickets needed
Just get get get get get on board"
All aboard
Choo-choo
choo-choo
choo-choo
Angeli R. Rasbury is an educator, artist, lawyer and award-winning writer. She has written articles about women, girls, culture and housing for women and children in need of safe, affordable options. She edited and published two collections of poetry and writing by young Brooklyn writers, My Grandfather Had One Coat and I Am.
