“Old Black Lady Next Door, Walking” by Wanda Coleman (1946-2013):
she walks walking
walked
all thru life
walks
restless like her people
waiting to see
what happens
knowing it will never happen
until after she’s deadold lady
there are so many things
i want to ask you
but I have no voiceshe walks walking
up and down the sidewalk
nylons knotted below her kneesat times my loneliness hers
she is the me
i meet in nightmares
(From Heavy Daughter Blues: Poems and Stories, 1968-1986 by Wanda Coleman © 1987 by Wanda Coleman. Reprinted by kind permission of Black Sparrow Books and David R. Godine, Inc. Photo by Deb Stgo)
The Dish 