Authors Note: While driving one day, I saw a group of teens walking down the street with a basketball. They were laughing, and even from my car, I could feel their delight in the day and one another’s company. I felt a swell of care for them. “Flock” is an attempt to capture the warmth of that moment. Also, I had been wanting to try a pantoum. The lines lent themselves to the repetition beautifully.
Black starlings swivel and swoop in murmuration.
Below, the boys walk by, all hoop sweat and swagger.
Their joyous maneuvers, a liberating ring shout.
Joshing and pushing, song voices peel into laughter.
Below, the boys walk by, all hoop sweat and swagger,
Every inch of concrete conquered becomes a kingdom.
Joshing and pushing, strong voices peel into laughter.
Long dark wings spread wide toward freedom.
Every inch of concrete conquered their kingdom.
Moving as one to claim their promised place.
Long dark wings spread wide toward freedom.
Each a seed purposely planted atop sacred space.
Moving as one, they claim their promised place.
We move aside, not out of fear, but reverence.
Each a seed purposely planted atop sacred space.
See these princelings? Our divine inheritance!
We move aside, not out of fear, but reverence.
Our grace and protection fills the armory,
Sealing these princelings, our divine inheritance,
A holy cloud humming in harmony.
Let grace and protection fill the armory,
Surround their joyous ring shout of liberation,
A holy cloud humming in harmony,
Black starlings swooping high, a murmuration.
Lesley Younge is a multi-genre writer, poet, and middle school educator from Silver Spring, Maryland. Her work has appeared in Poetry, Callaloo, Little Patuxent Review, and others. She is also the author of several books for young people including Nearer My Freedom, an award winning verse novel remix of Olaudah Equiano’s autobiography, and A-Train Allen, her first picture book. She has two forthcoming books on the nonviolent life of Reverend James Lawson Jr. who was her childhood pastor: Playbook for Justice and Soulforce. Visit teacherlesley.com for more information.
