On the Bus with Rosa Parks is a book of poems by Rita Dove. Rosa Parks was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has called her "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement".. Retrieved November 13, 2011. The quoted passages can be seen by clicking through to the text or PDF.
The book contains a poem about Claudette Colvin, a high school student who was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Parks for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus.
Contents July, 1925 Night Birth Lake Erie skyline, 1930 Depression years Homework Graduation, grammar school Painting the town Easter Sunday, 1940 Nightwatch. The son Singsong I cut my finger once on purpose Parlor The first book Maple Valley Branch Library, 1967 Freedom: bird's-eye view Testimonial Dawn revisited My mother enters the work force Black on a Saturday night The musician talks about "process" Sunday The camel comes to us from the barbarians The Venus of Willendorf Incarnation in Phoenix Best Western Motor Lodge, AAA approved Revenant On Veronica There came a soul The peach orchard Against repose Against self-pity Götterdämmerung Ghost walk Lady Freedom among us For Sophie, who'll be in first grade in the year 2000 Sit back, relax "The situation is intolerable" Freedom ride Climbing in Claudette Colvin goes to work The enactment Rosa QE2. Transatlantic crossing. Third Day. In the lobby of the Warner Theatre, Washington, D.C. The pond, porch-view: six P.M., early spring.
References
External links Rita Dove, On the Bus with Rosa Parks, interview