Once walking in old Baltimore
Heart-free, soul-filled with glee
I saw a Baltimorean
was looking back at me

Now I was eight and very shy
and he was no mud digger
and so I smiled, but he poked out
his tongue and named me Nigger

I saw no more of Baltimore
from then until December
of all the things that happened here
that's all I remember

----

INCIDENT by Countee Cullen

I've seen shadows erase rainbows
and raindrops drowned the sun,
I've even seen the blues overwhelm the day;

occasionally, what's what comes strange
and sorrow morphs into fun,
then, children crave schoolwork, instead of play!

Sometimes it can be troublesome
wiping up the messy tears,
it's confusing when they continually return!

I've learned to swing at life's curveballs,
and seen laughter sprout from fears,
then, drawn a blank seeing clues I can't discern.

twenty miles to the gallon
with a short stroke
hardened cam and
ported polished
she growls when i
drop the hammer

drone down the interstate
white line flashing like
deaths rib

twin cherry bombs
throbbing
bolted down
to the iron Interceptor
hauling ass

nightmare marauder
thundering
and a Python magnum
in a slip holster
wrapped in its thin
belts
beneath the Dickie jacket

flip rear seats
and sleeper style
detroit girl
jewel of the nile

tentacle ten table
octopus wing oscillate
quaterfoil moulded splayed lea
banqueting from Brighton
Saunders tapered padded
paneled sea trails cut brass
trellis elixir sprayed aprons
outline eastern wise men
dragons of habitual
above their firmament
inlay of prominence, water colour view
combining Gothic and oriental elements
electric fantastical fanatical