Every Next Day
Was born to be a mule,
got barn weaned in the August hay
Didn’t know ev’ry next day
was gon be like my first Labor Day
My Louisi-Ana, ebony twin fetter friends told me,
I was gon gator cry pray ev’ry next day
That I better bray learn to swallow my pain,
just like my mama did on my birth day
The only promise given to darkie me shy,
‘bout how yoke things gon bigotry be ev’ry next day
I was gon corral cry, neigh cry ... rein cry,
just like I did the first moment of that first teary day
As I grew into a young oxen,
and started a-muzzle thinking on my own
My first daddy tongue lash taught me: Ev’ry next day,
only rebel speak proud when you’re alone
So ev’ry now and then, when I go into busy body town
to pick up some farm supplies
I know I better lower my eyes,
when a cotton-skin pass by — Keep my head down!
Or ev’ry next day,
I’m gon feel like it is my last day
I once looked into an old lion’s sad eyes,
and saw his hope had died
That his ev’ry next day,
he a ne’er was gon ev’r feel gazelle alive
And I knew willow then,
turning over the dirt ev’ry next day
was my only labor pay
Turning over the dirt ev’ry next day
would be my final expense pay
Met me a big belly girl,
pretty as midnight
Said her Massa treated her good,
like she was white
And I knew sorrow straightaway,
that the joy in her ev’ry next day
was gon be short and slim
Like a prickly cotton stem
I secretly read, where the Good Book said:
The color of the Sun
shines the same on ev’ryone ev’ryday
But the pale barrel of a gun, showed me
that ain’t what the black smoke say
Steel fingers speak with tungsten purity
Weary me believe, ev’ry next day
be like the first exit womb day
Only the pain don’t ev’r pass thru,
the tears don’t ev’r go away
I’ve learned well
this one inescapable thing,
at the tethered end of
ev’ry next day —
The sunrise wages saved
of ev’ry next day
Be anew sunset spirit death
of the born-to-be a slave
11-24-20
Copyright © Freddie Robinson Jr. | Year Posted 2020
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.
Please
Login
to post a comment