American Poetry Now: Pitt Poetry Series Anthology

Etheridge Knight

 4 etheridge knight Etheridge Knight,widelyregardedasoneof America’smostprominent andliveliestpoets,wasborninCorinth,Mississippi,in.Hisbooks includeTheEssentialEtheridgeKnight;ForBlackPoetsWhoThinkof Suicide;APoem forBrotherMan;TheIdeaof Ancestry;andPoemsfromPrison.Knightreceived honorsfromsuchinstitutionsastheGuggenheimFoundation,theNational EndowmentfortheArts,andthePoetrySocietyof America.In 0he earnedabachelor’sdegreeinAmericanpoetryandcriminaljusticefrom MartinCenterUniversityinIndianapolis.EtheridgeKnightdiedin. Photo by McGuire Studio Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminal Insane HardRock/was/“knownnottotakenoshit Fromnobody,”andhehadthescarstoproveit: Splitpurplelips,lumbedears,weltsabove Hisyelloweyes,andonelongscarthatcut Acrosshistempleandplowedthroughathick Canopyof kinkyhair. TheWORD/was/thatHardRockwasn’tameannigger Anymore,thatthedoctorshadboredaholeinhishead, Cutoutpartof hisbrain,andshotelectricity Throughtherest.WhentheybroughtHardRockback, Handcuffedandchained,hewasturnedloose, Likeafreshlygeldedstallion,totryhisnewstatus. Andweallwaitedandwatched,likeaherdof sheep, Toseeif theWORDwastrue. Aswewaitedwewrappedourselvesinthecloak Of hisexploits:“Man,thelasttime,ittookeight screwstoputhimintheHole.”“Yeah,rememberwhenhe Smackedthecaptainwithhisdinnertray?”“Heset TherecordfortimeintheHole—straightdays!” “OlHardRock!man,that’sonecrazynigger.” Andthenthejewelof amyththatHardRockhadoncebit Ascrewonthethumbandpoisonedhimwithsyphiliticspit. Thetestingcame,toseeif HardRockwasreallytame. Ahillbillycalledhimablacksonof abitch Anddidn’tlosehisteeth,ascrewwhoknewHardRock Frombeforeshookhimdownandbarkedinhisface. AndHardRockdidnothing.Justgrinnedandlookedsilly, Hiseyesemptylikeknotholesinafence. AndevenafterwediscoveredthatittookHardRock Exactlyminutestotellyouhisfirstname, Wetoldourselvesthathehadjustwisedup, Wasbeingcool;butwecouldnotfoolourselvesforlong,  4 etheridge knight Andweturnedaway,oureyesontheground.Crushed. HehadbeenourDestroyer,thedoerof things Wedreamedof doingbutcouldnotbringourselvestodo, Thefearsof years,likeabitingwhip, Hadcutdeepbloodygrooves Acrossourbacks. He Sees Through Stone Heseesthroughstone hehasthesecreteyes thisoldblackone whounderprisonskies sitspressedbythesun againstthewesternwall hispipebetweenpurplegums theyearsfall likeoverripeplums burstingredflesh onthedarkearth histimeisnotmytime butIhaveknownhim inatimegone heledmetremblingcold intothedarkforest taughtmethesecretrites tomakeitwithawoman tobetruetomybrothers tomakemyspeardrink thebloodof myenemies nowblackcatscirclehim flashwhiteteeth snarlattheair  4 etheridge knight Andweturnedaway,oureyesontheground.Crushed. HehadbeenourDestroyer,thedoerof things Wedreamedof doingbutcouldnotbringourselvestodo, Thefearsof years,likeabitingwhip, Hadcutdeepbloodygrooves Acrossourbacks. He Sees Through Stone Heseesthroughstone hehasthesecreteyes thisoldblackone whounderprisonskies sitspressedbythesun againstthewesternwall hispipebetweenpurplegums theyearsfall likeoverripeplums burstingredflesh onthedarkearth histimeisnotmytime butIhaveknownhim inatimegone heledmetremblingcold intothedarkforest taughtmethesecretrites tomakeitwithawoman tobetruetomybrothers tomakemyspeardrink thebloodof myenemies nowblackcatscirclehim flashwhiteteeth snarlattheair  4 etheridge knight mashinggreengrassbeneath shiningmuscles earspeelinghiswords hesmiles heknows thehunt theenemy hehasthesecreteyes heseesthroughstone The Idea of Ancestry 1 Tapedtothewallof mycellarepictures:black faces:myfather,mother,grandmothers(dead),grandfathers (bothdead),brothers,sisters,uncles,aunts, cousins(st&nd),nieces,andnephews.Theystare acrossthespaceatmesprawlingonmybunk.Iknow theirdarkeyes,theyknowmine.Iknowtheirstyle, theyknowmine.Iamallof them,theyareallof me; theyarefarmers,Iamathief,Iamme,theyarethee. Ihaveatonetimeoranotherbeeninlovewithmymother, grandmother,sisters,aunts(wenttotheasylum), andcousins.Iamnowinlovewitha-yr-oldniece (shesendsmeletterswritteninlargeblockprint,and herpictureistheonlyonethatsmilesatme). Ihavethesamenameasgrandfather,cousins,nephews, anduncle.Theuncledisappearedwhenhewas,justtook off andcaughtafreight(theysay).He’sdiscussedeachyear whenthefamilyhasareunion,hecausesuneasinessin theclan,heisanemptyspace.Myfather’smother,whois  andwhokeepstheFamilyBiblewitheverybody’sbirthdates (anddeathdates)init,alwaysmentionshim.Thereisno placeinherBiblefor“whereaboutsunknown.” 00 4 etheridge knight mashinggreengrassbeneath shiningmuscles earspeelinghiswords hesmiles heknows thehunt theenemy hehasthesecreteyes heseesthroughstone The Idea of Ancestry 1 Tapedtothewallof mycellarepictures:black faces:myfather,mother,grandmothers(dead),grandfathers (bothdead),brothers,sisters,uncles,aunts, cousins(st&nd),nieces,andnephews.Theystare acrossthespaceatmesprawlingonmybunk.Iknow theirdarkeyes,theyknowmine.Iknowtheirstyle, theyknowmine.Iamallof them,theyareallof me; theyarefarmers,Iamathief,Iamme,theyarethee. Ihaveatonetimeoranotherbeeninlovewithmymother, grandmother,sisters,aunts(wenttotheasylum), andcousins.Iamnowinlovewitha-yr-oldniece (shesendsmeletterswritteninlargeblockprint,and herpictureistheonlyonethatsmilesatme). Ihavethesamenameasgrandfather,cousins,nephews, anduncle.Theuncledisappearedwhenhewas,justtook off andcaughtafreight(theysay).He’sdiscussedeachyear whenthefamilyhasareunion,hecausesuneasinessin theclan,heisanemptyspace.Myfather’smother,whois  andwhokeepstheFamilyBiblewitheverybody’sbirthdates (anddeathdates)init,alwaysmentionshim.Thereisno placeinherBiblefor“whereaboutsunknown.” 00 4 etheridge knight 2 Eachfallthegravesof mygrandfatherscallme,thebrown hillsandredgulliesof mississippisendouttheirelectric messages,galvanizingmygenes.Lastyr/likeasalmonquitting thecoldocean-leapingandbuckinguphisbirthstream/I hitchhikedmywayfromLAwithcapsinmypocketanda monkeyonmyback.AndIalmostkickeditwiththekinfolks. Iwalkedbarefootedinmygrandmother’sbackyard/Ismelled theold landandthewoods/Isippedcornwhiskeyfromfruitjarswith themen/ Iflirtedwiththewomen/Ihadaballtillthecapsranout andmyhabitcamedown.ThatnightIlookedatmygrandmother andsplit/mygutswerescreamingforjunk/butIwasalmost contented/Ihadalmostcaughtupwithme. (ThenextdayinMemphisIcrackedacroaker’scribforafix.) Thisyrthereisagraystonewalldammingmystream,andwhen thefallingleavesstirmygenes,Ipacemycellorfloponmybunk andstareatblackfacesacrossthespace.Iamallof them, theyareallof me,Iamme,theyarethee,andIhavenochildren tofloatinthespacebetween. The Warden Said to Me the Other Day Thewardensaidtometheotherday (innocently,Ithink),“Say,etheridge, whycometheblackboysdon’trunoff likethewhiteboysdo?” Iloweredmyjawandscratchedmyhead andsaid(innocently,Ithink),“Well,suh, Iain’tforsure,butIreckonit’s’cause weain’tgotnowherestorunto.” 0 4 etheridge knight 2 Eachfallthegravesof mygrandfatherscallme,thebrown hillsandredgulliesof mississippisendouttheirelectric messages,galvanizingmygenes.Lastyr/likeasalmonquitting thecoldocean-leapingandbuckinguphisbirthstream/I hitchhikedmywayfromLAwithcapsinmypocketanda monkeyonmyback.AndIalmostkickeditwiththekinfolks. Iwalkedbarefootedinmygrandmother’sbackyard/Ismelled theold landandthewoods/Isippedcornwhiskeyfromfruitjarswith themen/ Iflirtedwiththewomen/Ihadaballtillthecapsranout andmyhabitcamedown.ThatnightIlookedatmygrandmother andsplit/mygutswerescreamingforjunk/butIwasalmost contented/Ihadalmostcaughtupwithme. (ThenextdayinMemphisIcrackedacroaker’scribforafix.) Thisyrthereisagraystonewalldammingmystream,andwhen thefallingleavesstirmygenes,Ipacemycellorfloponmybunk andstareatblackfacesacrossthespace.Iamallof them, theyareallof me,Iamme,theyarethee,andIhavenochildren tofloatinthespacebetween. The Warden Said to Me the Other Day Thewardensaidtometheotherday (innocently,Ithink),“Say,etheridge, whycometheblackboysdon’trunoff likethewhiteboysdo?” Iloweredmyjawandscratchedmyhead andsaid(innocently,Ithink),“Well,suh, Iain’tforsure,butIreckonit’s’cause weain’tgotnowherestorunto.” 0 4 etheridge knight Feeling Fucked Up Lordshe’sgonedoneleftmedonepacked/upandsplit andIwithnowaytomakeher comebackandeverywheretheworldisbare brightbonewhite crystalsandglistens dopedeathdeaddyingandjivingdrove herawaymadehertakeherlaughterandhersmiles andhersoftnessandhermidnightsighs— FuckColtraneandmusicandcloudsdriftinginthesky fucktheseaandtreesandtheskyandbirds andalligatorsandalltheanimalsthatroamtheearth fuckmarxandmaofuckfidelandnkrumahand democracyandcommunismfucksmackandpot andredripetomatoesfuckjosephfuckmaryfuck godjesusandallthedisciplesfuckfanonnixon andmalcolmfucktherevolutionfuckfreedomfuck thewholemuthafuckingthing alliwantnowismywomanback somysoulcansing Welcome Back, Mr. Knight: Love of My Life Welcomeback,Mr.K:Loveof MyLife— How’syourdrinkingproblem?—yourthinking Problem?you/are/pickling Yourliver— Gotta/watch/outforthe “OlLiver”:Loveof MyLife. How’syourdope Problem?—yourmarijuana,methadone,andcocaine Problem/too?—yourlustfulproblem— How’syourweightproblem—youreatingproblem? How’syourlyingandcheatingand Stayingoutall/nightlongproblem? Welcomeback,Mr.K:Loveof MyLife 0 4 etheridge knight How’syourpocket/bookproblem?—your/being brokeproblem?youstilloweandborrowingmo’ dollarproblemsfromother/po/poets? Welcomeback,Mr.K:Loveof MyLife. How’syourex-convictproblem?—yourJohnBirch Problem?—yourpreacherproblem?—yourfat Priestssittinginyour/chair,saying Howracistandsexistthey/will/forever/be Problem?—How’syourDanielMoynihan Problem?—yourcrimeinthestreets,runaway Daddy,Blackmenwithdarkshades Andbulgingcrotchesproblem? How’syournixon-agnew—j.edgarhoover Problem?—youstillparanoid?stillschizoid?— Stillscaredshitless? How’syourbullet-thru-the-brainproblem?—or Aneedle-in-your-armproblem? Welcomeback,Mr.K:—Loveof MyLife. Yougottawatch/outforthe“OlLiver...