I have this book from 1804
it’s the Times newspaper
with strange articles that I adore.
~
I have bound up tight
newspapers of the first transatlantic Zeppelin flight.
of the first air raid in the us fight.
~
I have photos of immigrants
coming off ships
Her Majesty’s army
boys with guns on their hip
~
The first olmypics
Hitler before power
Harry Truman in his finest hour.
~
I have the Books of Knowledge
from 1942
poetry, science, Art, leaders
nature, plus things to make and do.
~
Reading the facts from between the two
the facts changed frame.
and I thought,”This can’t be true!”
History is supposed to stay the same!
~
When I was a girl
I joined the cities first Girl Choir
I was there at the first,
before they reached Higher.
~
now international
they sang before the pope
Records from the 1st year
are somehow lost without a hope.
Dairyshow in my county
is a huge affair now.
Guess who was the first
to a big hoopla?
went to state and won 2nd overall?
Last month I requested
something that showed what I did
you know, so I could show my children
I was something as a kid.
~
They responded back
“Were sorry but you were not the 1st.
We asked around, because records we lack.
It was some guy named Herst.
~
I knew what they told me did not track.
How did history change so much in 20 years?
trying to prove things has put me to tears.
I don’t know how to get my own history back.
how messed up is that?
~
History I feel
isn’t the truth
~
Oh certain facts are, I am sure
But its like those tales where the tale is true
but the facts have been changed maam,
The rest is just Poo.
~
I do have some records
that have recorded my past fate
a scholarship to DC
only person to be adopted twice in my state
~
A letter from the Opera saying I got in
a writing award from Levar Burton
saying, You Win!
Artwork I did that hung in a museum gallery
most of those things fill me with glee.
~
But if I didn’t have those things anymore
if I couldn’t prove it
would History put someone else’s name
Where mine now sits?
~
I am not saying History is totally wrong
but I think it needs to learn a new tune
to the song.
~
~
~