Two Poems on the Occasion of my 45th Birthday

Last night, as part of my birthday weekend celebration, I attended Get Lit's annual Classic Slam with writing friends and teaching colleagues. Get Lit is a wonderful program that believe in the power of words to change the world, and listening to these young people perform every year is convincing evidence that poetry is changing lives. Their format involves students claiming a classic poem and then writing and performing the classic and their response. It's a wonderful way to use amazing poets as mentors for young writers, and I use this format quite a bit. One of my favorite classics is Langston Hughes' "Theme for English B." Below is his poem and a recent response that captures life for me right now.

Theme for English B
Langston Hughes

The instructor said,

Go home and write
a page tonight.
And let that page come out of you—
Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it’s that simple?
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.   
I went to school there, then Durham, then here 
to this college on the hill above Harlem.   
I am the only colored student in my class.   
The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem,   
through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas,   
Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y,   
the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator   
up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It’s not easy to know what is true for you or me   
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I’m what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you.
hear you, hear me—we two—you, me, talk on this page.   
(I hear New York, too.) Me—who?

Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.   
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.   
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
or records—Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like
the same things other folks like who are other races.   
So will my page be colored that I write?   
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be
a part of you, instructor.
You are white—
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you.
That’s American.
Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me.   
Nor do I often want to be a part of you.
But we are, that’s true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me—
although you’re older—and white—
and somewhat more free.

This is my page for English B.

Theme for English B

            after Langston Hughes

It is never simple.
I am 44, almost 45
having lived through the years of our 44th president
and now trapped in the reign of the 45th.
I live in a blue state on a blue coast

where we often feel we safe

but are under attack.

I pick up my kids and drive home.
Head down Slauson, take a right
just before Crenshaw.

It’s not easy to know

what I know of you

and you of me

on my new street

a few blocks from

Nipsey Hussle Square.

Well, I like to read, watch shows,

eat well, and drink well too.

I like to run and jump and play

and maybe you do, too,

but in different ways than I do.

I miss my mother

and love my children.

As I sit and write this page,

I’m not sure anymore

what is true

for you or for me.

This is my page for English B.