Inspired by Langston Hughes
By Zaneta Varnado Johns
I know a river
filled with nightmares—
ghosts of my people
ghosts of my people
Africa’s rich brown skins
white-washed by American waters
lakes, ponds and rivers too
specially the Mississippi
muddy, meandering Mississippi
where the sun did shine
but gold turned to red—
blood of my ancestors
blood of my ancestors
Greeted with tragedy
on America’s
treacherous soil
again and again…
and…
four hundred years later—
yet again!
©️Zaneta Varnado Johns
Bio:
Zaneta Varnado Johns, aka Zan Johns, is a Pushcart Nominee in Poetry and 5-time bestselling author. Her personal publications include three poetry collections and the What Matters Journal. Johns is a contributing author to the Women Speakers Association’s Voices of the 21st Century collaborative book (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). Her poems are featured as the Dedication page in these #1 international bestselling publications.
Believing that every word shared is an opportunity to love, Johns’ writing offers hope as she stirs the reader’s consciousness about life and living. Johns is an editor for the Fine Lines Journal and an administrator for the Passion of Poetry. Her poems appear in over seventy anthologies and international literary publications. Johns is a Denver Dress for Success “Your Hour Her Power” 2024 Honoree. Her poetry has earned global recognition and accolades.
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