Alabama Street Scene

I wrote this on March 12, 1965, submitted it to the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, and saw it published in their May 1965 Bulletin.

I wrote it just after James J. Reeb, a Boston Unitarian Universalist minister, was murdered in Selma, Alabama. He was participating in a voter registration drive led by Martin Luther King, Junior, in circumstances not unlike those I have sought to portray.

If it were not for us it would be quiet, on this street,
and you could hear the small spring sounds
and smell the warm, wakening, soporific currents in the air
and see the translucent depth of the light
and feel and taste the whole, insoaking, gathering glow of the day -
it would be quiet on this street.

If we were not marching, down this street,
there would not be policemen standing
there at the corner with the tools of their trade
(I swear to defend the rights of all,
and to preserve the peace,
and never to abuse my power);

If we had not kindled this fire in our eyes
and in our voices
and in our walking, down this street,
there would not be firemen waiting with hoses
to try to quench it
(I swear to protect against disaster
these homes, and this town,
and to value the lives of all equally with my own);

If we were not humans, so many, here on this street,
they would not have needed to have their dogs with them,
leashed at the turn in the street
(no words my only bond is love but please
you must understand it is a ferocious
love and loyal without weighing and
you are strangers to me);

If we were not asking so loudly to breathe the air, all the air,
even the old church air if we want it,
even the cool dark moviehouse air if we want it,
even the dust- and justice-laden courthouse air if we want it,
they would not have gas ready to give us instead,
here on the street.

If we would stay home and in our places,
and not be uppity,
and not ask for more than we have been given,
and wait for another time
or another place
or anyway not this street and not today -

It would be nice
and sunny
and fresh
and blue
and quiet.

Very quiet.

And that would be a familiar hell,
and this is not, this is something else.

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