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All right, two more, and
then I'll read from my book.

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This wonderful poet.

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Vievee Francis,
African American poet.

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I just adore her poems.

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She has two poems in this book.

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And because we're
getting close to Easter,

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I'd like to read you this poem.

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"Like Jesus to the Crows"
that gathered along his arms,

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upon the invitation
of a slender limb.

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And not oblivious to
human violence perhaps

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needed rest or needed to
offer the succor of presence,

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despite the stiff collar
of their feathers,

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despite each one being
no less the children

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of a father who
claimed an upper realm.

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It is not true they
pecked his eyes.

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Nor did they consider
his wounds their own.

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They were neither
irreverent nor quiet.

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They spoke in the
tongues they knew.

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They called full voiced
and would have released him

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from his bindings, had
their beaks held the power

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and had there been
time in that place.

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Like them, I have sought
comfort and so been comforted.

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Like them, I have seen
the failure of miracles

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when they were most needed.

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Like him, I have called
upon those so unlike myself

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when my father failed to answer.

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