Page One

TAKE HEART

By Sharon Metzler Dow
Wednesday December 30, 2009 - 09:31:00 AM

Dr. Wong, when you looked in the mirror that morning,  

did you know you would save Charles Blue’s life? 

 

When you woke during the night for that drink of water, 

Charles’ heart was dying on the floor waiting for the ambulance. 

 

When you walked to your car with newspaper in hand, 

that paper was not so important as the bill-of-sale 

Charles’ great grandfather clutched in his hand when 

he bought himself and his wife out of slavery in Virginia. 

 

When you drove past the Oakland Library 

on your way to surgery,  

you didn’t know Charles’ father founded 

the first African American library. 

 

Dr. Wong, you walked into the hospital 

to gown-up as you do every day, 

as Charles used to walk into the southern university 

to instruct his chemistry class -- 

except the day the Dean told him 

if you march beside Martin Luther King tomorrow in Greensboro 

you won’t teach here again. 

Charles walked. 

 

You went to work that day, Dr. Wong, and tuned another heart,  

and now Charles Blue, classical violinist, 

plays Bach’s In Dulci Jubilo with heart — his.