Long Negros Poems

Eric Mottram on the American literary and cultural scene during 1965-66 while he was the recipient of the American Learned Societies’ award for a year. (begun in the last post and to be continued)

January 2,...

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- - - Chapter 1: Early Days - - - 

My father was a rich man, la, *
Though schooled in poverty, (1)  
As such he seldom raised his head, 
Displayed humility.
The center of the...

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Translation of Eric Mottram’s 1922 Section 1 by T. Wignesan

for David Attoe

Notre devise pourrait être: ‘que nous nous ne soyons pas envoûtés’
Wittgenstein in Zettel

laissez pendre   la graisse   sans cou
où la tête...

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Si de pronto no existes, (If of a sudden you were no more,) 
si de pronto no vives,(if of a sudden you live no more,) 
yo seguiré viviendo. (I'll continue to live.) 

No me atrevo,(I...

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My first amendment right was never fought for overseas! It was Martin Luther King who was beat to his knees! It was Fanne Lou Hamer who gave me permission to speak! It was a war...

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From the grounds of the south during the sweltering summer 
of Negros in America*, came white violence and murder.  The 
suppression and degradation of decades.  Americans treated
as less then a dog because they...

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I look all round me and I’m engulfed by shame 
I see people chanting freedom 
But they have nothing tangible to show they are free 
Because their freedom’s trail is unknown to them 

Shackles of...

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RAINBOW COALITION

As part of the darkness
All melentolin
what's all the drama
why do we allow predudice
For when we all die we become dirt and dust
Our souls has no color
Our soul is the true, you...
As part of the...

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This country 
These people 
have pushed me to this edge 
The ledge was never that stable 
My people are beat in the head with labels 
I guess that's why my condition is unstable 
Our troops...

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Strictly assigned to confine, 
The world need my eyes to surely comply,
I'm battling the gestures of 'don't try',
Mouths wage confusions from deep reply, 
You're sensing it in conceated line, 
Fame and dollar would get your...

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Siempre soñé con llegar hacer el hombre de tu vida
Pues en ti siempre miré todo lo que yo queria
Amor, ternura, compasión e infinita alegría
Todo eso y mucho más en ti yo percibía

Pensé que podría llegar...

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The old woman argued relentlessly, her case.
Resolute, she raved in her conviction; 
two thousand and one reasons were there for her to be mad.
Eleven was given to questioning eyes.

It was September, 
and Bernice brought home...

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White Man’s Good Ole’ Days

I’m the law in these parts;
This here is my town son.
You better learn your place;
Listen up until I’m done.

You can’t eat at the tables;
You can’t drink at the bar.
You’re not welcome...

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Piles of garbage; sounds of carnage they motion
Blurry images of malnourished children
Struggling for breath and bread
They evince; the struggles as we grow
-of how we ourselves are adversaries to our improvement, a hated compliment;
Of our lust...

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Annie Lander

I never took notice of
 Aunt Jemima photo as exploitation
Nothing racial or stereo types (did you)?

All I remember was the sticky bottle
 on our kitchen table, next to a stack 
 a sack of...

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The Call To Justice
When the days turn sourer
And the month turns dark
With the years flinging to return no more
Only the lonely already will thrive.

When the hopes of the Negros grow faint
Buried in the bellies of...

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WHO WILL DANCE
 All of my life
I have been searching 
As i swim across the great river
Of a faired and tinted Negros 
In all corners of the cardinal

Over and over, my heart beat
Unto my bone...

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