#BlaPoWriMo: Fly home, little Black bird

Little Black bird perched on my 
windowsill, spread your wings 
and fly. Fly while the sun is still 
high in the sky, while the breeze 
is still cool, while the police sirens 
are still far off. The South was
never safe. The North, less overt 
in its hate, will still lock you in a 
cage. Fly East, little Black bird, 
over the North-Atlantic current, 
which brought your mothers and 
fathers in ships like cargo, back 
to the land from which you were 
uprooted, back to the land where 
God originally planted you by the 
tree of life and said, "Of this you 
may freely eat." Land flowing 
with milk and honey, where 
there is not slave or free, Jew 
or Gentile, Black or White. Fly 
home, little Black bird, and 
when you find God there, ask 
Him to grant us our wings.

© 2023 Nortina Simmons

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Welcome to Day 6 of Black Poetry Writing Month (aka BlaPoWriMo)! BlaPoWriMo is a month-long challenge to write a poem every day during the month of February (Black History Month) related to Black history, Black people, or the Black experience.

Today’s optional prompt is: Write a poem to escape.