Classic Poem

I brought here, in a bag between my breasts,
money from Mama's friend who had bought herself,
then saved enough, by working without rest,
to free four friends. This woman gave me her wealth
of carefully folded dollars, so I could take
Miss Crandall's course of study. Within a week
of my arrival, I was summoned to appear in court.
The judge ruled I'd have to pay a fine, depart,
or be whipped naked.
Honey, the first white fool
that thinks he gone whip me better think again.
Touch me, and you'll draw back a nub, white man.
I ain't payin', and I'm stayin'. People's dreams brought me to this school.
I'm their future, in a magic looking-glass.
That judge and the councilmen can kiss my rusty black.











From Poetry Magazine, Vol. 186, no. 5, September 2005. Used with permission.