A Juneteenth Poem

Freedom West of the Pecos

Freedom West of the Pecos

West of the Pecos
freedom was slow in coming
beyond Van Horn Texas
the black man was a new gun sunnin

January or June ‘63 and ‘65
revolted gray warriors troubled quit makin hay
done killing Germans tryin to join north
west a Kerrville’d massacres when confederates had their say

Like the Brits owners offered freedom for slaves
would fight for Lee and Davis
considerin the unlikely raves
they mostly said no and waited on fate

South a Roswell New Mexico
free black folk built a town
without much water
time took that beginning down

Lincoln, Musk and points beyond
under eternity’s shadow the new age was found
freedom launches freedom’s ships
where all races win and evil’s eclipsed.