THE BOWDITCHS MUST

THE BOWDITCHS MUST HAVE BEEN GOOD PEOPLE



A black, moonless night,

late, hurried footsteps on 

Toxteth, a lantern glows on 

the hitching post (near where the

"Do Not Enter" sign now hangs), a 

quiet knock at the door, whispers, 

words exchanged, a door closes, 

inside another opens, a hidden 

room, one slave on the run 

will sleep soundly tonight,

and what happened 56,000 

nights ago around the 

corner makes me proud 

to live in Brookline 

Village, "Such cour-

ageous neighbors," 

I say, as I toss and 

turn in my 

bed.

The Sarah & William Bowditch House, still a private residence
and once a station on the Underground Railroad.
9 Toxteth St., Brookline Village, Mass.
May 3, 2004