Becoming Acquainted*
Reading about recent riots
In some of our cities and
About your interest in
Milwaukee’s own racial situation,
I wonder
They will tell you this city
is a swimming pool.
Find the deep end.
Find your legs.
if there is some way I could help
or become involved…I believe
They will use words like “hood”
like “ghetto.”
Don’t smirk.
They are always smirking
waiting for you
to smirk
with them.
the only way of preventing
further disorders is
to become acquainted
They will show you car crashes.
Find the potholes.
with the complex situation
in which these disorders
have arisen
They will tell you Lake Michigan
is snug in her valley.
Find the lifeboats.
So if there is anything
I can do
please write
Find others.
Get to work.
P.S. I am a white college student and a Catholic
-------------------------------------------
*Mike LaValle, July 25, 1967
—Ryan Hurley
