I read a poem by an Anglo, Black, Creole
Native American, bi-sexual woman who lived
through the turn of the nineteenth century
into the twentieth — for such a woman,
a time more treacherous than sublime —
she was so very much ahead
of her time.

A poet, essayist, novelist, journalist,
intellectual, political activist
addressing issues of all those
folks running through her blood-line,
she was so very much ahead
of her time.

War, racism, prejudice, women’s
rights, sexuality — all subjects
to be addressed, discussed, deplored,
championed, nothing ignored —
she was so very much ahead
of her time.

So sad to say, if she had lived in this
twenty-first century political clime,
she still would be very much ahead
of her time.