I Was Raised By A Colored Maid Poem by James McLain

James McLain

James McLain

From Tampa Florida And Still Living Near By

I Was Raised By A Colored Maid



Gone I once was with the wind in the South
back to a time when then as a child I once was,
here where we lived time stood still.

Butter milk and moist
cornpone was never less always more
than a word home made grits.
Ox tails, green collards,
fresh squeezed lime, potatoes mashed,
pecan pie, butter and biscuits, ice tea.

Before it was to late
U.S. children could never understand it, all the
dark white hate,
directed by them to our colored mothers their maids
whom brought
more than sweet syrup to our plates.

The railroad tracks were where we were warned of
before we became mirrored images of our parents.
A tad east and a bit west a little ways north,
just a stones throw some ways off to the south of
were all of the wooden homes that we lived in.

Important men with well worn heals
without respect for decent folks, the ones whom
could not back then vote.
Knowing if they could twould vote mostly Democrat.
We were always curious about how they could
deny respect to U.S.
and give nothing to the other and stir up such hate?


Now it is fifty years latter she they and them
have lived for over one hundred years
in the same home
they come from the Church
and give U.S. a ride to vote inside of the van
we can't help
but to speak about how we once lived in one district
represented by a community member
and how some old white man with white hair
gets on T.V. and says he is for U.S..
Most of U.S. have at least one family member
in some back woods hidden Prison he holds stock in.

Sunday, December 14, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: green
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bri Edwards 01 October 2018

OOPS! I MANAGED TO SAY BELOW THAT I'D PUT THIS INTO OCTOBER'S SHOWCASE AND THEN I FAILED TO DO IT! ! THIS ALSO HAPPENED WITH SOME OTHER POEMS WHICH I'D 'MISPLACED' AND LEFT OUT. BUT NOW I PLAN TO USE THIS IN DECEMBER'S SHOWCASE, OR maybe, i'll sneak them into November's, which was meant for just poems from the indian subcontinent'! ! well, I AM THE BOSS OF THE SHOWCASES, SO I'LL DO AS I PLEASE! ! ! HA HA. BRI :)

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Bri Edwards 22 September 2018

jAMES, thank goodness for the clearly-stated title. and thank goodness for my having grown up when i did so i've had hints at least, some from TV & movies, of what you write. i am visiting and reading this again today to let you know i intend to put it into October's showcase. Thanks, my friend. How goes life and you and your daughter? My best to you both. bri :)

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James McLain

James McLain

From Tampa Florida And Still Living Near By
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