Poem for April 9

I know, I know; I'm a slacker. I planned to 'catch up' this weekend, but doing my hair took a lot longer than I anticipated yesterday. And then I forgot.

Langston Hughes was probably the first poet I could say I liked. His was the first poem I ever memorized ("Dreams: Hold fast to dreams/for if dreams die/life is a broken winged bird/that cannot fly).

This next poem sticks with me though, because of what it says of the things that black folks still know (and most white folks still don't) about the lessons that black children still learn.


CHILDREN'S RHYMES

By what sends
the white kids
I ain't sent:
I know I can't
be President.

What don't bug
them white kids
sure bugs me:
We know everybody
ain't free.

Lies written down
for white folks
ain't for us a-tall:
Liberty And Justice —
Huh! For All?

-- Langston Hughes