Searching for Waldo

You turn the pages of my puzzle book and search for Waldo.
Every time you’ve found me, though.
On each subsequent page, the scene grows more complicated.
But you’ve keen eyes and tried methods, and you’re extremely dedicated.

You’ve come to understand the manner that I hide in a crowd.
You hear my plea for help by my body language ‘cause I speak no word aloud.
Your tenacity in searching shows me that you know that I long to be found.
And you seem to enjoy the pursuit of discovering me as though some secret treasure abounds.

Juneteenth

 

Have you heard the decree

That you were made free?

You were made free two

Years ago and your masters knew

But they kept your freedom a secret from you

To continue to get you to toil and labor

Because your sweat was in their favor.

They fought to keep you enslaved

And were enraged

That they had lost the Civil War

And were sore

And peeved

That you might leave.

Without your power

Their fortunes would dry up that very hour.

Because they would have to do their own work:

A work

They were unskilled and too few to do.

So yes, they kept your freedom a secret from you.

But on this day, June 19, 1865,

The message of freedom has reached the last enslaved people still alive.

Now that you know you are free.

Go forth and achieve equality!