Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON WATCHING POLITICIANS PERFORM by ETHERIDGE KNIGHT

Poet Analysis

First Line: HYPOCRITES SHED TEARS
Last Line: WITH THE ANTE RAISED
Subject(s): POLITICS & GOVERNMENT; FUNERALS; KING, MARTIN LUTHER, JR. (1929-1968);
Hypocrites shed tears
like shiny snake skins
words rolling
thru the southern air
the scent of flower
mingles with Jack Daniels
and Cutty Sark
the last snake skin slithers
to the floor where
black baptist feet
have danced in ecstasy
they turn
away
to begin
again
manicured fingers shufflung
the same stacked deck
with the ante
raised



Home: PoetryExplorer.net