A stranger In His Land - Ann Matthews Moorhead

A stranger In His Land

While traveling in a foreign land,

    Still Bound by apartheid,

I booked a tour upon a bus,

    To see the countryside.

The driver stopped at interest points,

    And let us browse each town --

In one quaint place with cobbled streets,

    I stumbled, slipped down.

A Blackman, passing, helped me up - 

    I thanked him, shook his hand,

And gave him change for aiding me - 

    A stranger in his land.

He smiled a shy, engaging grin,

    They humbly bowed his head - 

"Bless you, my children eat tonight,"

    The grateful Blackman said.

Upon returning to the bus,

    The driver gave a sneer - 

I saw what you just did out there;

    We don't do such things here"

Mid hostile stares, I took my seat,

    And sat there church-mouse quiet,

But my heart held the happy thought - 

    His children ate that night.

Ann Matthews Moorhead

1989 A book of the Year - The poetry Society of Texas