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.

My brothers knew The things you know. I did not scorn learning them; It’s just my mind

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

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

The tree of life has fallen on my small house. I thought it was so much bigger! But it is not. There in the distance I see the m…

She is the one who will notice that the first snapdragon of Spring is

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

Let other leaders Retire To play golf & write Memoirs

His posture From so many years Holding his robe with one hand Is odd. His gait

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

With your unknown to me Odd magic You came To me:

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

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

When you see water in a stream you say: oh, this is stream water; When you see water in the river you say: oh, this is water

You confide in me that you are lonely,

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