On the church steps in downtown Nashville, 2004

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We put on a show.

Yelled, real loud, top-of-our-lungs rhyme

for the folks drinking five-dollar coffees

at the Starbucks across the street.

Minton suggested the church steps,

even though they didn’t say we could.

What they gonna do? Arrest us?

She shrugged one shoulder, wagged

her hand, then performed

a little ditty about war.

Ross ranted against revenge,

Kelly recited a poem about denial, and

me, I did an impersonation of a capitalist.

One guy in a business suit

shook his fist at us, yelled

a curse we couldn’t hear.

He wouldn’t cross the street,

say it to our faces. So we waved

like beauty queens

in an independence day parade,

smiling to the crowd.  Hey, y’all!

When the police cruised by,

Sonia was playing her guitar like a punk

rock star, screeching metal strings

and singing a less than flattering song

about the president of the United States of America.

The preacher finally showed up,

wearing his Sunday collar, waited politely

while we hollered some more.

When we were tired and hoarse

the preacher politely suggested

we ask for permission next time.

Forgiveness is easier.

We cackled and cracked jokes

all the way down the sidewalks

of downtown Nashville. Had ourselves

a real good time.

© Ami Mattison

Flickr photo courtesy of bmitd67