Baptism In Rebellion (People's Chldren's Poem for Lauren Walker)

Baptism in Rebellion

(the epic Newark Rebellion of ’67

thru the eyes of a child,

for Lauren Walker)

by ‘bro.zayid’

“Momny!

“Dey breakin’ windows

“oooooh!

“dey baaad!...

“ooh! Mommy!

“Look at all the toys and clothes

an’ tvs and stuff they takin’

“Are dhose boys stealin, Mommy?

“Why dhose redlights on dhose cop cars

be so loud for, Mommy?

“Somebody in trub-bol,

“Huh, Mommy…

“Oooh! Look Mommy!

Dey startin a big fire ova  dare, Mommy!

“Ooooh…

“Ooh! Look Mommy!

“De cops got dey guns out!

“Wow!...

“Are dey shootin fo’ real, Mommy?

“With real bullets?

“Mommy!

“Da cops hit dat man in his head

an’ bust his head open

an’its bleedin!...

“Mommy!

“Dey thro’ dat lady ona groun’

An’ dey kickin her all in her back

An’ all in her stomach, Mommy!

“Mommy!

“Dey hurt her real bad

an’ she wasn’t even doin nuthin!?

“Mommy!

Why we walkin’ so fast for, Mommy?

“Ooooh! Mommy!

“DEY SHOT DAT BOY!!

“Look at all that blood comin outta his leg!...

“Ooooh! Mommy!

“Dey shot anudda man!!

“An’ lady dat’s wit’um is callin’ dhose cops all kinda names!

“An’ she say bad words too!...

“I’m comin, Mommy!

“I’m comin…

“Mommy

“You aint say ‘excuse me’ when you hiccup’d

“An’ why you holdin your side?...

“Mommy…

“What’s de matta?

“Why you fall down on da groun?...

“Mommy…

                 “Mommy…

                                        “Mommy, you bleedin…

“Mommy, wake up…

“DEY SHOT MY MOMMY!!!

“I HATE COPS!!!”...

©1986