Once again, it’s April and it’s National Poetry Month. You know what time it is:
Have you Ever Tried to Hide?-Pat Parker
Have you ever tried to hide?
In a group
of women
hide
yourself
slide between the floorboards
slide yourself away child
away from this room
& your sister
before she notices
your Black self &
her white mind
slide your eyes
down
away from the other Blacks
afraid-a meeting of eyes
& pain would travel between you-
change like milk to buttermilk
a silent rage.
SISTER! your foot’s smaller,
but it’s still on my neck.