it came to her children

18 the minnesota review Alycee J. Lane it came to her children mama never got loud 'til it came to her children, she'd speak in soft whispers and would cry at some silly tender love scene 'tween Betty Davis and some man a quiet woman whose hands would make the lightest bread and tuck the sheets just so 'cept when it came to her children i know 'cause i was startled into this knowledge once some old shriveled white woman called me 'n ray-ray pickininnies cute little nigger babies 'n offered us a nickel each you should've seen mama she put her hand on her hip raised her finger to that white lady's face an' got REAL LOUD shouted things like FUCK YOU WHITE NASTY BITCH an' KISS MY ASS the store manager came the white woman turned red as the devil and me 'n ray-ray stood with our mouths all open wonderin' who the loud woman was then mama turned to us takin' air from the top of her lungs an' said DON'T LET WHITE FOLKS TALK DOWN TO YA, YA HEAR? I'LL BEAT YOU BEHINDS IF YOU DO! mama stayed loud 'til we got home, now when i hear real Lane 19 loud brown women i smile i think of mama an' yell GO 'HEAD GIRL TALK THAT TALK i love me some brown women. ...