Sheila Stahl

 

Stay Seated - Part I

 

’Twas twelve and one, nineteen fifty-five,
Parks stays seated, stayed parked for our lives.

 

Was it weary bones or physical pain?
No sir, she tired of playing the game.

 

She’d take her seat in the marked Colored aisles,

Then move again when the White Man would smile.

 

Rosa Parks stayed seated while three others moved,
“Why don’t you stand up?” She politely refused.

 

A $10 dollar fine plus $4 to the court,
At Zion they met, to boycott support.

 

A pastor from Dexter would fight and upturn,
“We’re not getting on,” though our houses will burn.

 

A treacherous walk for three-eighty-two,
Sweet Parks lost her job and then Raymond’s too.

 

Quite violent times on Montgom’ry streets,
Victorious end, for some bittersweet.

 

Parks’ packed up dear Mom, said, “Goodbye,” to their friends,
Then off to Detroit starting over again.

 

Rosa found a new job and more “Quiet Strength,”
Resolute in her ways, she’d go to great lengths.

 

Lighting “Pathways to Freedom,” safe Underground,
Teaching all who would listen, frowns upside-down.

 

At ninety-two she would have quite a crowd,
Lying in State under Rotunda’s shroud.

 

Gold medals adorned brave courage back then,
But most proud I’m sure, ’twas sweet peace within.

 

 

 

 

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