TED JOANS ~

 

The Truth

IF YOU SHOULD SEE A MAN

walking down a crowded

street

     talking

                  ALOUD

TO HIMSELF

            DON'T RUN

                                           IN THE

OPPOSITE DIRECTION

                                        BUT RUN

TOWARD HIM

                    for he is a

                                         POET

you have NOTHING to

                                          FEAR

FROM THE

                  POET

                          BUT THE

               TRUTH  

_____________________________

Ted Joans (1928-2003)

African American Poetry

250 Years of struggle & song

edited by Kevin Young

Library of America

2020