Dennis Walikainen

Dennis Walikainen (dkwalika@mtu.edu) lives and works in Michigan.

On Maya Angelou's Visit to Northern Michigan, 11/4/99

Went to buy a Maya Angelou book lunchtime,

But bought some City garbage bags instead.

We had run out,

And I don't want to pollute.

But then, we don't recycle, either.

The sweet black angel told us

To praise librarians and take out

Some books by black authors and others of color.

She was right, again.

She told us we should memorize a poem for when we need it.

She told us to find a rainbow in every cloud.

I remember Ellison's not invisible.

I remember that Baldwin went drunk to his father's funeral.

(At least he went.)

I remember Smokey's real name.

I remember when Stevie was little.

She should have been a preacher, that girl.

This driving around the country will tire her.

I'm worried she'll leave us too soon.

Forget the money; get on the pulpit and save us from liberal guilt.

(And, hell, she's not a bad singer either.)

Forgive us our trespasses,

But, I'm a little busy right now.

I've got Bloomberg TV on my Mac,

And I'm getting slaughtered.

Oh, great:

"Net congestion, buffering!"

Maybe I'll hit the bookstore.

(I don't know, it's a long way off.)

Maybe tomorrow.

(And $6 is a lot of money.)

Dennis K. Walikainen