Her Dreams #2 (Runner-Up)

During the age

Of segregation

There was a park

Purchased by Dr. Cal Johnson

For Black children to play

In

It had swings

A jumble gym

A basketball court

And a tennis court

Actually two

The little kids could play

In the afternoon

But when work was over

The men got the court

Matthew and Marvin hit the ball

So hard

It made me wonder?

Why? But they couldn’t play

In any tournament

Mommy lived directly

Across the street

She played every day

Hitting harder and harder

The Colored Tournament was held

At Wilberforce University

Where Grandmother got the money

To send her I still

Don’t know

But she did

Mommy played and played

Until she reached

The Finals

Althea Gibson was on

The other side

Mommy lost

I always liked

That trophy

“Runner-Up”

I kept it and kept it

Until finally there was an argument

And my father broke it

Not trying to hurt

Her but just jealous

Because he didn’t have one

Someone—not me—threw it

Away

But she was still the Runner-Up

To Althea Gibson