Jennifer D. Laws
  • Home
  • The Book of Laws
    • About
    • Blog
    • Poetry
  • Journey
    • Evolution
    • Events
    • Explore
  • Contact

U.S. A.R.M.Y.

9/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Yes, My Retarded Ass Signed Up
An ass backwards acronym 
Serve my country?
So tell me what happened then
Back when I was fieldhand
Slaving in the hot sun
From dusk 'til dawn 
Until I got the job done

Stole my family and shipped me off to foreign lands
Unknowing of when I would see Motherland again 
Then Abe declared the E.P.
So tell me
Have I really been free since 1863?
Supposedly

And I still ain't seen 40 acres
And a mule or no reparations
I get segregation, degradation 
And white's against integration 
Discrimination ain't new to me
I appreciate Mrs. Parks 
That's why I sit in the front bus seats

Jim Crow tried to hold me down
Black activists of the 60's 
Helped to make my silence turn sound
I'm spellbound
Sold my soul to the government 
I got the M.G.I. bill
Not here for the honor of it
Patriotism went out the door

If that's the case soldier 
​Then what the hell are you here for? 

I wrote this while I was in a training class at Basic Training in Fort Jackson, SC. One of my drill sergeants was reading over my shoulder as I was brainstorming about what could come after the line, "Patriotism went out the door." The drill sergeant laughed at me then said, "If that's the case soldier then what the hell are you here for?" What he said made sense and it rhymed, so I decided to keep it. 


A poem from "Just My Thoughts: Mind, Body & Soul" by J.D. Laws, July 2006.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Just My Thoughts:
    ​Mind, Body & Soul 
    available now!
    Picture
    Purchase

    Archives

    May 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017

    Categories

    All
    Blackness
    Diamante
    Feminism
    Haiku
    Inspiration
    Journey
    Life
    Love
    Music
    New York
    Passion
    Reflection
    Spirituality

    RSS Feed


    Handwritten short review by legendary poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator Nikki Giovanni for "Just My Thoughts: Mind, Body & Soul" 
    Picture
    "It's not a #1 record but Just My Thoughts: Mind, Body & Soul catches the times of the heart and minds. Thank you so very much for sharing with me." 
    Poetically,
    Nikki Giovanni
    (excerpt)
    (side note: It's dated one day after my 22nd birthday! I cried and died when I saw that part!!) #Won'tHeDoIt! Yasss!!!
    Picture
    Dear J.D. - 
    I'm delighted to grant permission. Good luck! Keep on keeping on. 
    Poetically, 
    Nikki Giovanni 
    (her response to allow me to use her review for promotion) 
    (side note: This is dated two days after her 67th birthday!)

    Picture
    This is Nikki Giovanni's review for my still unreleased book of poetry, "R.I.S.E."
     THIS is why I'm NOT stopping! 

    Celebrated ICON, poet, memoirist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist Dr. Maya Angelou acknowledged receiving my book with this kind card!
    Picture
© 2024 JENNIFER D. LAWS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • The Book of Laws
    • About
    • Blog
    • Poetry
  • Journey
    • Evolution
    • Events
    • Explore
  • Contact