Draft, A BLACK MILITANT POEM SPEAKS

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Poem begun at Le Barry, 1 Aug. 1985, 11:20 a.m.—12:37; 4:40 p.m.—5:05 A BLACK MILITANT POEM SPEAKS by J. A. Emanuel I was born militant, screamed when the world first [*leave 5 spaces*] touched me, slapped me into life. Measles, mumps, and scarlet fever dug [was like trenches to my bedroom door,] foxholes near my schoolyard, [tried an tough tested me at fighting back,] [blood tested [while words my father hated] [toughened my hands] [to the schoolyard,] to my inkwell, [sank] dragged me home to [for] test[s at] my fighting back. Retilo Remos taught me how to [swear curse like Mexicans pushed [who had to live] in boxcars homes [across the] across [beyond] the railroad tracks, while words my father always hated [toughened my hands, like cracked marbles toughening gripped] toughened my hands like the grip of cracked marbles.

Full description

Draft poem written by Emanuel in 1985, handwritten with annotations, embedded with notions of militarianism and survival.

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  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    683 kB
  • container title
    James A. Emanuel Papers
  • creator
    James A. Emanuel
  • issue
    BOX 5 FOLDER 4, Deadly James, draft A, 1981-1990 (1 of 2)
  • rights
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • rights holder
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • version
    8/1/1985