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Until They Have Stopped
Dedicated to Paul Robeson, Sr. Until they have stopped glutting me with slop from the kitchen’s garbage to make fat profit of me like a hog, Until they have stopped slitting my throat like a defenseless animal’s in the near-Christmas time killing for the Christmas feast, Until they stop the knife which in my tenderest…
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Without Music
Originally excerpted in 1972 from the unreleased collection, Why Do I Have Corns On My Feet? This is the way it is without music Stale dishwater—untechnicolored Rich in the recommended calories And the not so recommended grease Whose stagnant inactivity Leaves a ten hour old tidal mark Around the half-emersed pile Of breakfast dishes The…
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Revolution – Poem
Good God! Here she comes now Lurching this way Coughing blood Hollow-eyed The after-birth oozing down her leg. Fist upraised Defiant smile If you’re not ready for her Better move out the way Who am I? I’m with her.
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Conversation with my daughter – About a star
Originally published in Sarah E. Wright and Lucy Smith’s Give Me a Child (1955) , now out of print. If you’d like to assist/keep up-to-date with efforts to get the book printed again, follow our Substack. “No, honey! That star didn’t just get there, But I am not at all surprised This is your first…
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Conversation with my son–About flowers
“Child, look for flowersIn our fields; they are there.There is a kind that growsOut of hungering soil,In spite of stiffened earth –In our fields. “There is a kind that teethes on rock,Thrives on the trampled leavings;This is a kind that will not dieUnsunnedIn our fields. “Don’t bother your head with roses!You will not want to…
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I Went for a Job
Originally submitted and published in multiple papers, including Philly Daily Worker, in 1953. Bookkeeper wanted? There were a lot of ads in the Philadelphia Inquirer, One whole column and a half– I picked out a good one: Bookkeeper, capable of handling complete set of books, small manufacturing concern, young woman, experienced, call between 9-11. Ask…
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Urgency
Originally published in Sarah E. Wright and Lucy Smith’s Give Me a Child (1955) , now out of print. If you’d like to assist/keep up-to-date with efforts to get the book printed again, follow our Substack. This moment is precious: The car has stopped. Thank God for red lights And seats enough this morning. Oh…
