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Thursday, July 16, 2020

Matres Tribus (Three Mothers): Imaginary Biopics in Meter & Rhyme by Ulysses Poe with Images by the Author

Below's deploy'd a trio of socio activists -- all actual or
potential moms -- whom you ought to know a lot more
about. But you will need to research them yourself. In
the meantime, here are three thumbnail portraits -- 
and this reminder: there are many more than three BL
maters(And plenty of paters, too: cf last line of poem.)
 
Sing out, "How-DEE!" 
to Opal T.,
the well-known Black Lives mater.
Tometi fights
for human rights
as writer, educator,
as agitator, 
organizer...
(More 'bout Opal later.)

Now meet Ali-
cia Garza. She...?
Another Black Lives mater,
who strives to teach
the soul of each
'n' ev'ry woman-hater
to "apogee"
their enmity:
one BLM creator.

One more: Patrisse
Kahn-Cullors, peace-
ful envoy, Black Lives mater --
fine artisan. 
(Me...? I'm a fan.
My cousin wants to date 'er.)
Three Black Lives Matter 
matriarchs.
There protest no "moms" greater.

But ask your housemaid or your waiter:
Harriet...?* A Black Lives mater.
      Ask calypso's Lord Invader:
Fannie Lou...?** A Black Lives mater.
     Ask James Banning, aviator:
Rosa Parks...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask the Pequod's navigator:
Daisy Bates...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask your fire pit's excavator:
Dorothy Height...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask that quiz show moderator:
Diane Nash...? A Black Lives mater.
     Ask each Tot you're sure's a Tater:
S. P. Clark...? A Black Lives mater.

     John R. Lewis...? Advocator,
freedom fighter, Black Lives pater!

     * Harriet Tubman   
     ** Fannie Lou Hamer


     Notes on Opal, Alicia and Patrisse 

When but a second grader, young Opal hops a freighter,
one bound for the equator -- nor do her bros dissuade her.
     Garza's radish grater's deploy'd for Shabbat seder --
all so she need not cater that meal...nor none upbraid her.
     A Marxist incubator, a former Oakland Raider
and honorary 'Gator, Patrisse once plump'd for Nader.

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