Dear Dorothy

I had never met you
Therefore, I haven't seen you
But we got acquainted
Through folk tales
Told in class
In February
Of your wisdom
Of your courage
On the roads
Tobacco and Day
Sweeping Main Street
Annoying Wall Street
Percolating blues joints
Spilled on 125th Street
You bit your thumb at Barnard
Who gave you the finger first
NYU called next with dots and loops
Rich like your service to
The people and lovers
They didn't want to pump the cause
They didn't need to fight the laws
Big statements
Sans a gun
Silent praise
Holy night
All is calm
You lived life