My New Black Magazine - NYU Black Renaissance Noire BRN-FALL-206 ISSUE RELEASE | Page 84

7.
when Perry Lee’s horse went lame he stayed behind
while Jackson moved on toward Okfuskee
the story goes that Jackson changed horses twice
culled a new steed from a moving pack of wild ones
a habit he did not break until age caught up with him
until one sheriff too many sent him running west again
a new moon had come and gone before he returned
by that time Perry Lee had readied the house for their ma’am
stacked wood by a south wall to keep winds at bay
all for nothing when Jackson returned with only Dora Emma
sitting tall in the saddle more man than woman
sunburnt in Indian garb beads braided in her hair
8.

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BLACK RENAISSANCE NOIRE

she told them how their ma’am died chopping wood
when the axe slipped and no one there to stop the bleeding
said their mother’s people took her in for the time being
said the time ran out when Jackson showed up
Perry wanted Jackson to come home with him and Dora
to be a family that wouldn’t have to go looking for each other
until he saw Jackson was bent on striking out on his own
where he said man horse and rabbit all had the same
chances and nobody asking them to jump Jim Crow
said he had to get to getting’ end of Civil War or not
Jackson stayed with them as far as the mighty river
loaded them on the steamboat its massive wheels
churning grey water where jack salmon dived for cover