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Maggie Bonner

I was born Maggie Price
on April 30, 1899 to a half
Indian and Irsh mother
and a Black father.
I grew up in Indiana where
I was courted and wed by Willie Bonner.
Six babies and one set of twins
later my family was complete.
'Twas my thinking, until --
Willie died of cancer,
when Patricia, our youngest --
was less than one years old.
I worked hard and tried
my best to raise them right.
It seemed like God, time,
and fortune were on my side.
'Twas my thinging, until --
I lost Iva feannetta to cancer
and Bobby, the youngest of my
two sons to the second war.
For years I played with too
many grand, great grand,
and great-great grands
to accurately name --
'Twas my life, until --
The stroke paralyzed me
Nevertheless, I sat proudly
as the white haired Indian chief
On Christmas eve of 1983,
God's kingdom opened its gates,
I walked and there stood
Willie, Ieannetta and Bobby ...My early lost three.

Rhonda 1. Myers '88

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