La Vaca, by Alice Walker

La Vaca

Look

into

her eyes

and know:

She does not think

herself

steak.

* La vaca, "the cow" in Spanish.

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To change the world enough you must cease to be afraid of the poor. We experience your fear as the lea… humiliations; in the past

I said to Poetry:"I’m finished with you." Having to almost die before some wierd light comes creeping through

Expect nothing. Live frugally On surprise. become a stranger To need of pity Or, if compassion be freely

When you thought me poor, my poverty was shaming. When blackness was unwelcome we found it best that I stay home.

As if I’ve swallowed A watermelon And Sidestepping My digestive tract

Going out to the garden this morning to plant seeds for my winter greens —the strong, fiery mustard

How can Humanity look the deer in the face? How can I,

When the people have won a victory whether small or large do you ever wonder

My desire is always the same; wherever Life deposits me: I want to stick my toe & soon my whole body

Remember When we ended It all —for a weekend— & how

I Sing of Mumia brilliant and strong and of the captivity that few black men escape

Did you ever understand this? If my spirit was poor, how could… Was I depressed? Understanding editing, I see how a comma, removed or inse…

Before I leave the stage I will sing the only song I was meant truly to sing. It is the song of I AM.

I have a friend who is turning gray, not just her hair, and I do not know why this is so.

The old men used to sing And lifted a brother Carefully Out the door I used to think they