enemy ground
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Like a war movie
where we lived on the set.
Lots of kids got rides,
Although the army men played the safety patrol.
At school, the stage shook;
Actors were dropped off in screeching half-tanks.
—Army men never smile or sign autographs,
but if a white kid asks nice,
he gets to touch a gun.
My director gave me my cue:
Straight home from school!
No stops at the Sunoco station for candy bars!
The real tanks were searching for black men, the extras
—who smiled when they saw Just me again!
—who searched their pockets when I needed change,
Some extras had speaking roles.
I remember the lines: Run along home,
The streets ain safe,
for no one no more.
88.05.10
poem copyright © 1988 mark gilbert gadzikowski
all rights reserved
