Ode to a City in 11 Haiku
These Haiku tell a story of a city built on community and perseverance. They tell a story of Durham.
This piece was contributed as a part of our African American Heritage Guide by Durham Poet Laureate D.J. Rogers.
Blossoms snow on the
bronze statue and spring stampedes
down these city streets,
a china shop to
lift up ev’ry voice and sing
a crackling, brilliant,
song of sharp people -
minds and edges and creases
black suits, black ties and
black hands, building walls
of trade and protection and
insuring ourselves.
When no one else would,
we had us. We had us when
the trials and hardships
tried to wash us all
Away. We found a way to
glow under the lights
we powered. We, the
beat, utility, water,
body electric.
Merrick to Murray,
Shepard shepherded a King
to the Hillside, high
and alive, always
alive and standing with hands
outstretched to us all -
Mechanic, farmer
banker, scholar and healer.
We are history.
We are running and
we will not be stopped we are
Durham. We are here.
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