A by Don L. Lee (Haki R. Madhubuti)
it was wild.
the
bullet hit high.
(the throat-neck)
& from everywhere, 5
the motel, from under bushes and cars,
from around corners and across streets,
out of the garbage cans and from rat holes
in the earth
they came running. 10
with
guns
drawn
they came running
toward the King— 15
all of them
fast and sure—
as if
the King
was going to fire back. 20
they came running,
fast and sure,
in the
wrong
direction. 25
BIOGRAPH
Don L. Lee was born in 1 42. He is a militant African American poet, critic,
publisher, editor, and spokesperson — the most vocal and best known of the
Chicago school of Black Arts writers who emerged in the late 1 60’s, and the
one of them who has managed to remain in the spotlight as a literary figure.
He changed his name to Haki R. Madhubuti in 1 73.
His mother’s struggle to overcome poverty, addiction, and degradation while
raising her children had a powerful impact on Madhubuti’s life, and he credits
her as the wellspring of his intellectual development.
it was wild.
the
bullet hit high.
(the throat-neck)
& from everywhere, 5
the motel, from under bushes and cars,
from around corners and across streets,
out of the garbage cans and from rat holes
in the earth
they came running. 10
with
guns
drawn
they came running
toward the King— 15
all of them
fast and sure—
as if
the King
was going to fire back. 20
they came running,
fast and sure,
in the
wrong
direction. 25
BIOGRAPH
Don L. Lee was born in 1 42. He is a militant African American poet, critic,
publisher, editor, and spokesperson — the most vocal and best known of the
Chicago school of Black Arts writers who emerged in the late 1 60’s, and the
one of them who has managed to remain in the spotlight as a literary figure.
He changed his name to Haki R. Madhubuti in 1 73.
His mother’s struggle to overcome poverty, addiction, and degradation while
raising her children had a powerful impact on Madhubuti’s life, and he credits
her as the wellspring of his intellectual development.
