The Essential Etheridge Knight

ON THE BIRTH OF A BLACK I BABY I BOY

ON THE BIRTH OF A BLACK I BABY I BOY -for Isaac BuShie Blackburn-Knight In Memphis-in Tennessee. (0 Come-and go I wid I meeee ...) In Memphis, in TennesseeIn the year of (y) our Lord, 1978- (and the christian I suicides in Guyana). In the bubbles and the blood of Boss Crump's guiltIn the blueness of the hospitality of his I hos I pi I talIn the sterile gowns, green and growingIn Memphis, in Tennessee ... Where all women I are I whining Queens, Where black walnuts drop like leaves, Where all women I are I shining QueensWhere I cops I act I much worse than thievesIn Memphis, in Tennessee ... When I the blood of your birth I is I screaming forth like a fountain from the white thighs of your motherWhen I her I hand I is tight on mineWhen I sink in I side her belly, and cling to I youWhen I short miles to the south the Ku Klux I Klan march like locusts over I this I landWhen mayors I like Moscone I are I shot-down, like Martin, Malcolm, and Medgar EversWhen Jimmy Carter I tries I to stand where Martin stood In Memphis, in Tennessee-And. As the lady I medic I with her long black hair taunts your mother: 0 push push push push70 As I my I belly I becomes a drum and my blood beseech theeAs I my I heart I becomes a song and my eyes lakes of lightning. As I your I mother grunts for 3 I days and groans for 3 I nights, As I she issues you I forth on a sunday night, (on a chilling, raining, sun I day I night)andnow . As you lay warming in my arms, sonall .! I can I say is: You I be a loonngg time coming, boyBut you're wel 1come here. 71 November-December 1978 ...