“Sisterhood,” a painting by death row prisoner Erskine Johnson, an old friend of the Bay View

When the angel of death

Whispered into your ear

Why have another

Why go through all the trouble

Get rid of it now while you still have time

My mother responded with love and said not this one.
 

When the doctors saw no hope

Death whispered into her ear

    There is no chance he will survive

    End his suffering now, let him go in peace

    Why worry, pain yourself any longer

My mother responded with love and said not this one.
 
When the street would have me

Death whispered into her ear

    I’ve got him now

    I’ll take him now

    I’ve got what he needs

    Give him to me

My mother responded with love and said not this one.
 

When the war of defeat would succumb me

Death whispered into her ear

    He has no chance

    He will not make it

    He is doomed

    He will die now

My mother responded with love and said not this one.
 

When my spirit did fail

Death whispered into her ear

    He has given up

    He has turned to me

    He is mine now

    Give him to me

My mother responded with love and said not this one.
 

So, Mom, as I sit back and wonder how I made it over

Love whispers into my ear

    Your love saved me

    Your love sustained me

    Your love sheltered me

    Your love uplifted me

So, my mother, I respond with

    I love you.

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