In response to Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool”

 

SHOOTERS SHOOT

PAST DARK


Damn death

comes too soon

so shoot

we jazz june


summer sun on a blue moon

we take our shot and jump to

leave a cold world                 with real cool

                                   warm shoes

no cold feet

we hoop dreams

like 24’s

like 23’s

like float like a butterfly and sting like a bee


up here         untied laces float like wings


up here         we play beat

we slang speak like rap slings

words too smooth           words two times

two

like                            don't try

                                just do

your sisters did not raise fools

we know the laws of gravity

we just choose to break the rules

so don't trip Momma

they you speak of don't make it

cuz they don't have

"air"

we the boyz who make it

cuz we don’t care

that no one cares