by Evan Perez

1/30/22

The City College of New York

Professor Vicars

Theme for English B

I wonder if it’s that simple?

I am twenty-two, colored, born in Long Beach, California 

I went to school in Arkansas, then here

To this college on the hill above Harlem

I am one of many colored students in my class

The hill leads down to the Hudson River

Through the college gates, I cross Amsterdam Ave

Hamilton Pl and Broadway,

The one lane street 140th, where I take the elevator

Up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It’s not easy to know what is true for you or me

At twenty-two, my age. But I guess I’m what

I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you.

Hear you, hear me – we two – you, me, talk on this page.

(I hear New York, too) Me – who?

Well, I like to snack on sweets, sleep, drink juice, and take photographs

I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.

I like a jacket for a Christmas present,

Or shoes – Nike, Adidas, or classic Chelsea boots

I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like 

the same things other folks like who are other races

So will my page be colored that I write?

Being me, it will be colored. It will be white

So it will be

A part of you, instructor.

You are white–

Yet a part of me, as I am a part of you

That’s America

Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me

Nor do I often want to be part of you

But we are, that’s true!

As I learn from you,

I guess you learn from me–

Although you’re older– and white–

And somewhat free

This is my page for English B