This poem was written about my grandmother, Ms. Bonnie Honora.
Ms. Bonnie is a sister who represents the true nature of a Black woman. She nursed the sick, overcame poverty, and faced racism head on. Her story gives me strength and her warm spirit lives within all of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is a great woman of God. However, we know her as Ms. Bonnie.

Have you been down to Burma Road
to see Ms.Bonnie carry her load?
Her hands were swollen from working,
and her legs were damn near bowed.
But with her children at her side,
she always walked with great pride.

However, the years have come and gone,
and her babies have grown up well.
And you know those babies are like their mother because they refuse to fail.
Ms. Bonnie always taught her children that Jesus was and is the light.
And if those children started going left,
she was quick to knock'em right.

Ms.Bonnie often wore shoes
that were too tight for her feet.
I heard that she even ate spoonfuls of dirt so that her babies had enough to eat.
And when times were much too hard,
Ms. Bonnie's words were always wise.
And she was quick to tell you to keep your faith
because soon the sun would rise.

Yes, Ms. Bonnie has overcome racism, misery, and bitter cold.
But I've seen her work for pennies
so that her children could inherit gold.



Copyright 2005 Samantha T. Roden-Levy