By Stuart Shea
Shrouded in soft gauzy myth
Jackie Robinson
smiles, uncomplicated–
angry when necessary,
beatific when possible,
surrounded by angels and devils,
not people.
Making Jackie a figure,
instead of a person,
means we don’t have to deal with
what he dealt with.
We can celebrate his triumph,
which by our celebrating it becomes OUR triumph.
Oh, how good we are.
Oh, how good that is.