“How Some Children Play at Discrimination”

How Some Children Play at Discrimination

You don’t need no sign
no poorly scribbled letters
like a lemonade stand, said Leanne

You simply climb to
the top of the jungle gym
and from the top, you look

down and say no
but only to the dark skin
girls, you say no you don’t
get to play here

You remind them
of the last wide-nostril girl
with cornrows for hair

how she tried
to climb, you remind
them you kicked her, her

blood and busted tooth
tainted the metal, you
remind them the teachers

wouldn’t let anyone on
for 10 whole days. No,
said Leanne, we’re not

letting them take what’s
ours. Not ever. Not
again.

Copyright (c) 2017 by Ciona Rouse . All rights reserved. Ciona Rouse lives in Nashville, where she curates many poetry experiences. Her poetry has been featured by Matter: A Journal of Political Poetry and Commentary, Nashville Public Radio, and Nashville Public Television, among others. Her chapbook, Vantablack, has just appeared from Third Man Books.