One more shot One more robbed One more rape. Numbers
grew quicker than I, a little girl barely old enough
to read them in the paper that afternoon.
See there little girl, and there. Father nourished me on. Look.
Just people like you and me. Leading their lives.
Leading. Living. Their lives. The streets quiet and dark.
The stillness couldn’t calm the clamor of my thoughts.
My eyes green and small, peering through windows
strain for those things father wishes me to know.
Graceful Olds a friend sold on the cheap glides through blackness
All he has to show me swimming by like slow motion.
They black, I white.
black street white sidewalks black windows with black bars.
black men in white sleeveless tees.
these once-white shirts, seeming white against darkness.
quiet darkness. Sailing through hot summer night
in old blue Olds. Glimpses of color. Red broken cola sign
and open doorways. Candy wraps slightly aloft in the breeze.
Red light Green light yellow candy wrap. White Girl.
Worst neighborhoods in biggest baddest city.
Yeah. nothing goin on much in these here streets.
So few sow trouble if there's any at all. Don't worry girl.
nothin goin on. 'less somethin goin down.