Mister, I Ain't Afraid (POEM)
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Mister, I ain't afraid of You.
Not the you who drinks black coffee
with two sugars,
who calls his Mama on Sunday's.
Not you, never you.
But I am afraid,
at night,
being followed by a dull jacket
of mottled greens and tans,
by wild hair and pockets bulging
with I hope are only empty hands.
I'm afraid, Mister.
Of course, I am.
Not because you're darker than me,
but because you're bigger,
stronger,
with fists that can pound,
a mouth that can bruise.
Mister, you tell me,
what's a woman alone to do?
You hulk behind me,
block after block,
in the semi-darkness
always seeming to go where I go.
Always just behind me,
I feel so small.
You'd never do this,
not you,
but how about a man
who looks something like you?
Here on the street,
where I dare not say hello
Mister, how am I to know?
Should I allow
some faceless man
to grind himself inside me
just so I won't be rude?
You tell me, what am I to do?
I go faster, you go faster,
My heart kicks in my chest
By brain says "you'll die
or something worse",
so I go faster and faster.
Yes, you scare me,
with the clomp of your boots
on the deserted concrete
Mister, the very size of you...
And just as I reach someplace,
any place, well-lighted,
with people.
I hear you,
"Fucking bitch, what did I do?"
And I confess, Mister,
I'm afraid, so afraid
but it ain't of you.
Mister, I ain't afraid of You.
Not the you who drinks black coffee
with two sugars,
who calls his Mama on Sunday's.
Not you, never you.
But I am afraid,
at night,
being followed by a dull jacket
of mottled greens and tans,
by wild hair and pockets bulging
with I hope are only empty hands.
I'm afraid, Mister.
Of course, I am.
Not because you're darker than me,
but because you're bigger,
stronger,
with fists that can pound,
a mouth that can bruise.
Mister, you tell me,
what's a woman alone to do?
You hulk behind me,
block after block,
in the semi-darkness
always seeming to go where I go.
Always just behind me,
I feel so small.
You'd never do this,
not you,
but how about a man
who looks something like you?
Here on the street,
where I dare not say hello
Mister, how am I to know?
Should I allow
some faceless man
to grind himself inside me
just so I won't be rude?
You tell me, what am I to do?
I go faster, you go faster,
My heart kicks in my chest
By brain says "you'll die
or something worse",
so I go faster and faster.
Yes, you scare me,
with the clomp of your boots
on the deserted concrete
Mister, the very size of you...
And just as I reach someplace,
any place, well-lit,
with people.
I hear you,
"Fucking bitch, what did I do?"
And I confess, Mister,
I'm afraid, so afraid
but it ain't of you.
Mister, I ain't afraid of You.
Not the you who drinks black coffee
with two sugars,
who calls his Mama on Sunday's.
Not you, never you.
But I am afraid,
at night,
being followed by a dull jacket
of mottled greens and tans,
by wild hair and pockets bulging
with I hope are only empty hands.
I'm afraid, Mister.
Of course, I am.
Not because you're darker than me,
but because you're bigger,
stronger,
with fists that can pound,
a mouth that can bruise.
Mister, you tell me,
what's a woman alone to do?
You hulk behind me,
block after block,
in the semi-darkness
always seeming to go where I go.
Always just behind me,
I feel so small.
You'd never do this,
not you,
but how about a man
who looks something like you?
Here on the street,
where I dare not say hello
Mister, how am I to know?
Should I allow
some faceless man
to grind himself inside me
just so I won't be rude?
You tell me, what am I to do?
I go faster, you go faster,
My heart kicks in my chest
By brain says "you'll die
or something worse",
so I go faster and faster.
Yes, you scare me,
with the clomp of your boots
on the deserted concrete
Mister, the very size of you...
And just as I reach someplace,
any place, well-lighted,
with people.
I hear you,
"Fucking bitch, what did I do?"
And I confess, Mister,
I'm afraid, so afraid
but it ain't of you.
Mister, I ain't afraid of You.
Not the you who drinks black coffee
with two sugars,
who calls his Mama on Sunday's.
Not you, never you.
But I am afraid,
at night,
being followed by a dull jacket
of mottled greens and tans,
by wild hair and pockets bulging
with I hope are only empty hands.
I'm afraid, Mister.
Of course, I am.
Not because you're darker than me,
but because you're bigger,
stronger,
with fists that can pound,
a mouth that can bruise.
Mister, you tell me,
what's a woman alone to do?
You hulk behind me,
block after block,
in the semi-darkness
always seeming to go where I go.
Always just behind me,
I feel so small.
You'd never do this,
not you,
but how about a man
who looks something like you?
Here on the street,
where I dare not say hello
Mister, how am I to know?
Should I allow
some faceless man
to grind himself inside me
just so I won't be rude?
You tell me, what am I to do?
I go faster, you go faster,
My heart kicks in my chest
By brain says "you'll die
or something worse",
so I go faster and faster.
Yes, you scare me,
with the clomp of your boots
on the deserted concrete
Mister, the very size of you...
And just as I reach someplace,
any place, well-lit,
with people.
I hear you,
"Fucking bitch, what did I do?"
And I confess, Mister,
I'm afraid, so afraid
but it ain't of you.