To remind you
of the suffering
of the innocent child
misused

To remind you
of the promise
of Yusuf Hawkins
unfulfilled

Reminding you
Of Emmett Till
forgotten

young unwitting warriors
to remind you
of four girls
swaddled
in unheralded graves

Of forsaken lots
of infant trees cut in stride

Toward the dream
unrealized

young blood reddening
Alabama clay
Mississippi mud
New York streets

Young hearts stilled in mid-beat
tender memories waiting fertile

tragic martyrs shining