Before there was a ‘we,’
There was fantasy wondering if it was real
Heat dreaming it could cool
Before there was a ‘we,’
Right wanted to go left
Learning ditched schools
Before there was a ‘we,’
The obvious was the most dangerous thing to lurk
Never being spotted until it was too late
Before there was a we,
Every kind act was a strike
The only path was narrow and straight
Before there was a we,
The silence liked to sing
Every virtue is a sin
Before there was a we,
Bones were trying to become thin
Water turned into gin
Once there was a we,
My soul was replaced by Jazz
And every month melded into June
Now that there’s a we,
Regardless of when I die
It will be too soon
After Gwendolyn Brooks.