She sits upon a timbered chair
Tossed atop a make- shift stage
Her audience still chattering
Yet, the previous act engaged.
‘Till silence finds her listeners
To eavesdrop on her fretted board
The fingers pleat on strings that dance
As toes, tap haze above dusty floor.
She encourages a tremolo
The plectrum strikes its strings
Then, to accompany her instrument
This black woman begins to sing.
Her words, ever basic
Express complexities of soul
As she embraces the hollow body
To hold close its wooden bowl.
Then, for only a brief while
Race and gender blur bias line
And music finds its spectators
Reserve their usual malign.
Each person can keep a smile
One and all, as human, rejoice
The magic of a mandolin
And Minnie Owens voice.
Written on behalf of Minnie Owens
A vaudeville performer with the Kentucky Juvenile Minstrels,
She was known as “
By Sherrie Ball © 2010
Originally Posted On Site: 2010-04-24 14:10:32
Last Login: 11.05.11
Visits as of 12-12-07: 190
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