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Her Dreams #2 (Runner-Up)
During the age Of segregation There was a park Purchased by Dr. Cal Johnson For Black children to play In It had swings A jumble gym A basketball court And a tennis court Actually two The little kids could play In the afternoon But when work was over The men got the court Matthew and Marvin hit the ball So hard It made me wonder? Why? But they couldn’t play In any tournament Mommy lived directly Across the street She played every day Hitting harder and harder The Colored Tournament was held At Wilberforce University Where Grandmother got the money To send her I still Don’t know But she did Mommy played and played Until she reached The Finals Althea Gibson was on The other side Mommy lost I always liked That trophy “Runner-Up” I kept it and kept it Until finally there was an argument And my father broke it Not trying to hurt Her but just jealous Because he didn’t have one Someone—not me—threw it Away But she was still the Runner-Up To Althea Gibson