The Two Nation America
The Two Nation America
It was in Huston some years ago my ship was being repaired,
it was a dry ship – no alcohol allowed- its skipper was teetotal
we had to be too, petty tyranny. I walked ashore to liquor store.
It was a poor district where roads and pavements had been
neglected. Factories closed down, no point spending money on
people who didn’t work. I felt nervous by those leering black faces
thought they were ready to rob me and steal my booze.
The store a place, young men grouped, seeing me going in made
acid remarks about my whiteness, they made grunting noses.
To ask for wine was a waste of time, bourbon and beer, I bought
four bottles of vodka and a bottle of seven up to dispel the idea
I came here for thr booze alone. Coming out of the store I saw a blue
lettered bar across the road it had air-condition, I had a beer and
later many more. Then it was dawn time to go on board.
a cruising patrol car stopped, to tell me I was lucky to be alive, yet
I had four bottles of vodka in a bag; and yes, a bottle coca cola too.
Copyright © Jan Oskar Hansen | Year Posted 2015
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