Are you telling on yourself?
Outside sneaking,
graffiti writing,
cig smoking,
candy buying,
but you’re alright with me
’cause when I heard
you and horns testify…
I was hopscotching and double dutching
In playgrounds swinging, full voice singing:
“Skippieees,
they cost a dollar ninety-nine.
Skippieees,
they make your feet feel fine”
Miss Mary Macking with hands clapping
Hide-and-seeking, relay racing,
Giggling and twirling and chasing…
Chasing your melodies and
dizzy with black girl joy.
© Sharon Fleshman
Your Call: What memories or moments help you recover your joy?
The most memorable time is when my Nana and I sat watching television discussing the various issues in the stories that I should avoid or simply not do. Those discussions and nuggets of wisdom still impact my life today.