“Praise Song for Marlin” by Le Hinton

Praise Song for Marlin
(Sunday, October 6, 1968)

When Marlin Briscoe started for the Broncos, we cheered.
Before
Doug.
Warren.
Russell.
Before
Colin.
We
knelt
before
we cheered when Marlin Briscoe started for the Broncos.

Le Hinton
1/12/2020

Le Hinton is the author of six poetry collections, including: Sing Silence (Iris G. Press, 2018). His work can be found in The Best American Poetry 2014, Summerset Review, Pittsburgh Poetry Review, and outside of Clipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, incorporated into Derek Parker’s sculpture, “Common Thread.”

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“Another Black History Month” by Le Hinton

Another Black History Month

Revolution [19^th Century]

“any free person, who shall hereafter teach, or attempt to teach, any slave within the State to read or write… shall be liable to indictment”
Act Passed by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina
at the Session of 1830—1831

To learn, we break the law.
Read
fast.
Pick
slowly.
Read,
then
hide
what’s
read.
We learn to break the law.

Sunday Morning [20^th Century]

“but as I write these words now I cannot stand and sing “the National Anthem.” I have learned that I remain a black in a white world.”

                                                  Jackie Robinson

I will sit right here for now.
Blood
staining
Birmingham
glass
Blood
spinning.
Earth
soaking
blood.
For right now, I will sit here.
 
The Content of Our Color [21st Century]

Future just a dream~
                                               brother’s
                             hands
               held
high
                                               brother’s
                              done
                bleeding
out~
                                               brothers
dream a just future

Le Hinton
2/5/2018

“Jazz Piano Skinnys” by Le Hinton

Jazz Piano Skinnys

Thelonious Monk

She danced the chord Monk played for
free.
Sweet
dissonance.
Fearless,
free-
flowing
music
breathes
free.
She played the chord Monk danced for.

Bill Evans

“We will meet again,”
Bill
plays.
She
prays.
Bill
dreams.
I
believe,
Bill,
we will meet again.

Art Tatum

We invited genius for tea
this
Sunday
morning.
Across
this
piano,
hands
fly.
This
genius we invited for tea.

Le Hinton
4/5/2017

“How to Build a Fire” by Le Hinton

How to Build a Fire

Find a church to hate.
Use
hymnals
as
kindling.
Use
pews
as
fuel.
Use
hate to find a church.

Le Hinton
11/16/2016

“School & Church” by Le Hinton

School & Church

Our father’s hands were
black
(writing
on
the
black-
board).
Praying,
(still)
black
were our father’s hands.

Le Hinton
8/1/2016