Russell Goings

An excerpt from The Children of Children Keep Coming: An Epic GriotSong By Russell Goings (Simon & Schuster). With images by Romare Bearden. Part two “Jubilee.”


“Jubilee”
By Russell Goings

The bright voice of America cries:

Nothing else will do
Liberty, Justice, Equality
Support you, you, you and me

This is the time
To accept the nation’s promise
Of forty acres and a mule
This is the time to explore the lawns
Beyond the river

Under ringing bells
Rejoicing souls shout:

Is this the day?
Is this the day to ring our bell?
To enjoy victory’s inclusive beat
Good God almighty, Is this the time?

Let us pray:

Tall is the cypress
Strong is the oak
Both need rest.
Lord, slavin’ tests!
Lord, slavin’ tests!

Free! Free! We’s Free!
Nothing more. Freedom is the best.
Great day in the morning.
We’s free.

Everywhere bells are justa ringing.
Feet are dancing, hearts are throbbing,
Mothers are hugging. Faces are smiling,
Brothers and sisters are parading.

The nation calls:

Freedom is here.
The war is over,
The nation is united.

Over the country
The stench of war dissipating,
People are praying, giving thanks
People are planning, preparing,
Settling, joining, beginning.

Eyes once closed in horror and sorrow,
Now brim with relief.
Eyes of the freed now gleam
With promise of belief.

Pride is in the eyes,
Praise lives in the vigilant.
Songs are sung.
Freedom’s bell tolls

Morning, noon, and night
Tolling bells brighten
The wayward, the wary, the beaten warriors.

Yesterday’s pain, cruelty, bitterness
Yield to optimism, enthusiasm.

The children of the children
Dance and sing, asking:

Who owns the sun, moon, and stars?
Who colors the night with dreams?
Who corrects wrongs?
Who sees what we see?

Who’s stronger than a prayer?
Who owns the ground
That holds the dead?
Who will sit facing crows,
With the lady on the bus?

Is this getting’ down day?

Under an arching rainbow,
Small children, on green lawns,
Playing kick the can sing:

We fill our bags in the sun;
Freedom for us has just begun….

© Copyright 2006 SeeingBlack.com

Top of Page