(1934--)

if i cud ever write a

poem as beautiful as u

little 2/yr/old/brotha,

I wud laugh, jump, leap

up and touch the stars

cuz u be the poem i try for

each time i pick up a pen and paper.

u. and Morani and Mungu

be our blue/blk/stars that

will shine on our lives and

makes us finally BE.

if i cud ever write a poem as beautiful

as u, little 2/yr/old/brotha,

poetry wud go out of bizness.

(for 2^nd & 3^rd grade sisters)

can’t nobody tell me any different

i’m ugly and you know it too

you just smiling to make me feel better

but i see how you stare when nobody’s watching you.

i know i’m short black and skinny

and my nose stopped growin fo it wuz ‘posed to

i know my hair’s short, legs and face ashy

and my clothes have holes that run right through to you.

so i sit all day long just by myself

so i jump the sidewalk cracks knowing i cain’t fall

cuz who would want to catch someone who looks like me

who ain’t even cute or even just a little tall.

cain’t nobody tell me any different

i’m ugly anybody with sense can see.

but, one day i hope somebody will stop me and say

looka here, a pretty little black girl lookin’ just like me.