Asking For Some Water

The diner reeks of sweaty booths The ceiling fan has died. Summer bakes the windows brown As brown as burgers fried. Black head, wooly head Seated at the bar Heat and tension rises But they’re not going far “I’m asking for some water And then I’ll leave this stool.” “Get out of here, get out of here, You bloody, dirty fool!” He won’t move, she won’t move Their color makes them strong The waiter shakes his fist White and cold and long. “We’ve been here for an hour, We’re not here for a fight.” “You’re black and dark and dirty, You don’t deserve the right.” Still he sits still she sits Still the waiter broods But summer’s broiling stillness Unleash those tall white hoods First a spitball Then a fry A plate of mashed potatoes Then sugar crystals all around Shoot up And spin And fly The heat and rage arise As the season takes its toll The customers rise up They hate the dark skinned soul Soda soaks her curly head Mustard coats his face Nasty words and insults rain From an angry, hateful race Then out come the bottles ‘Til on the floor they flood Sparkling shards of broken glass That steal the young man’s blood It slips and gleams steadily A mocking shade of red It drips atop his shoulders From a gash along his head. “Stop it, stop, stop this nonsense now!” A cop storms in in shining sweat He raises up his hand. “You two kids get out and get! Why don’t you end this now?” The black girl stands She turns around She pulls her shoulders back “Beat us down into the ground But we will never quit.” On and on the summer boils And on and on the hatred heats All those meant to live as brothers Sit back as love retreats. They staid on And they staid firm They did not yield to hate So it backed down He drank a glass And then they changed their fate.