Friday, November 18, 2016

Words in Poems: Maya Angelou (III)


Photograph by Belén Mato

The Calling of Names


He went to being called a colored man
after answering to "hey, nigger."
Now that's a big jump,
anyway you figure.
                                                         Hey, Baby, watch my smoke.
From colored man to Negro,
With the N in caps,
was like saying Japanese
instead of saying Japs.
                                                 I mean, during the war.
The next big step
was a change for true,
From Negro in caps 
to being a Jew.
                                                       Now, Sing. Yiddish Mama.
Light. Yellow. Brown
and Dark-brown skin,
were okay colors to
describe him then.
                                                          He was a Bouquet of Roses.
He changed his seasons
like an almanac.
Now you'll get hurt
if you don't call him "Black."
                                                                Nigguh, I ain't playing this time.



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