He can’t love me openly because of my black skin
Stolen glances
Love notes in hidden crevices
1752
he owns me
I am his hidden heart
I submit only to him and his father punishes me
Hugged against the oak my back scarred my life slips away
And he is left behind
L(o)if(v)e shouldn’t be like this

Birmingham
Across the street we watch each other
Worlds apart by only a few feet
Jim crow rules with a noose
I can’t love him openly because of his white skin
1952
Born too soon the time is not right
ambushed beneath the oak tree
Black fists pound white flesh
My brother says one less cracker in the world
He slips away and I am left behind
L(o)if(v)e shouldn’t be like this

An age of enlightenment
2152
No secret messages
No fear
He loves me in my skin
I love him in his skin
Embracing together beneath the oak tree
L(i)ov(f)e should be like this