she’s not
the only one
who speaks
two tongues.
I’m fluent in
two Englishes:
one “Black”
the other “good.”
It pays to speak
both languages
in my neighborhood.
Self
When I grow up
I want to be
like my old man
who is his own
from his out-of-style
black beret
to his soft-as-butter
leather loafers.
Something New
Grandma used to sit
in her vinylized chair
wire-rim glasses on
the tip of her nose
teasing gravity
and she’d surrender
to Spillane or
Agatha Christie
for the night.
On the doilied
table beside her
haloed in lamplight
would be her Bible
alongside Webster’s tome
kept handy just in case
her murder mystery
should yield some
new word-treasure.
She’d be equipped
to find and measure
its meaning before
adding it to her massive
collection. Still, “You’re
never too old to learn
something new,” wasn’t
tattooed on my memory
until the day
my grandmother
turned sixty
and earned her G. E. D.
Family Movers
REMEMBER
First, bend at the knee.
BACK STRAIGHT
Wait till the count of three.
THEN LIFT!
Don’t scuff the parquet floor.
CAREFUL!
Ease it through the door.
HEADS UP!
Time to turn around.
THERE!
Now, lower and set it down.
SIS SAYS
When there’s work to be done
BECOME
A handywoman.
A Dime a Dozen
Writers are a dime a dozen
a dime a dozen
a dime—
I heard those words one time too many
from my own mother who
worried I would fail and said
“Find another dream instead.”
But my heart scripted one phrase truer:
“Someday she’ll be proud to say
be proud to say
be proud—
To shout out loud My daughter,
the Writer.”
A Note About the Author
Nikki Grimes started out on her path as a writer by ignoring most of the counsel she received from even her most well-meant advisers. Instead she trusted her own instincts and with a mix of talent, courage, and stubbornness became the celebrated author, poet, lecturer, and educator she is today. Her books for young readers include Jazmin’s Notebook, Growin‘, and her latest picture book, It’s Raining Laughter, illustrated with photographs by Myles C. Pinkney (all from Dial). Born and raised in New York City, she now lives in Seattle, Washington.
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