I was home

In Lincoln Heights

Named for Abraham

As many other small black

communities are

Only 20 years old

Not cowardly

I had picketed Rich’s

Department Store in Knoxville

I sat in with Fisk University

In Nashville

But not all that Brave

Mommy didn’t want

me to go

Neither did my father and I wondered

would it matter

50 years later I know

It did

We watched

We prayed

We, too, were

inspired

I didn’t go

I stayed home

And reminded myself:

We also serve

Who sit

And Wait

-Nikki Giovanni