I am not as fragile
As my heart
This body doesn’t care
When you rolled up on me
The only white boy in the room
I gave you a pass
This time around I let
Humor
Patience
And a good time lead the way
It has nothing to do
With throwing fists
Proving myself
I did that a long time ago
Hands of stone
Ruthless calculation
Shattered more
Than one
Eye socket
Made tougher men apologize
This time around I was
Thinking of my buddy
It was his party
His house
His wedding
You have no idea how close you came
To my unique brand of teaching
To the overhand right
To having your pride
Bitch slapped
In front of your boys
I squared up on you
But the leg never went back
I talked in an open stance
With an open mind
That lesson would come
You’d find your teacher
I hoped he would be smaller
Than you
Pinkie white
And skinny
Heart of Africa black
And big would do
But I wanted you to learn more than that
I wanted you to see what a racist
You are
What a punk you are
I wanted to show you
Then and there
I have a fragile heart
A righteous right
A ruthless hook
A body that doesn’t care
You looked at me like a target
So when you rolled up on me
Everyone in the room
Who knew me
Knew you
Picked the wrong guy
But this time
Time had matured me
This time
I ticked underneath
I put a governor on it
And gave you a pass
I sat down
Next to the biggest fuck in the room
Someone you would not have the balls
To pick out
To pick on
And he whispered to me
You sure have changed
You have no idea
How close you came
But it was
The after party
To the wedding
Its ten years later
I have not divorced the idea
Of teaching you
I have not forgot you
Cause back in the day
When I wore my fragile heart
I would have change your life
Your perception
And you would know why
I was the only white boy in the room
And how close you came
To being
Color blind
There’s probably a whole novel in that poem. Enjoyed that.
Thanks Madison…I fixed a few mistakes, it should read better now.
I love the poem
Are you trying to center it or vary the paragraph indents?
email me
Thanks! I want it to be easier to read. I find you have to scroll down the page just to read it. I wouldn’t mind if the spacing was closer. It seems like it is double spaced. I can not locate the option.
fantastic and deep….. loved it Tom!
Thank you Joyce! Thanks for taking the time out to read and for the kind comments.
Tom
A lot of story in that poem. As Madison said, a novel. Racism is a two way street, isn’t it? I applaud your self restraint and your poem.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you Rochelle….it could be a book it’s so darn long. Racism is a two way street and a sad road to be on.
Tom