Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OLD LEM by STERLING ALLEN BROWN

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: I TALKED TO OLD LEM
Last Line: "BUT THEY COME BY TENS."
Subject(s): RACISM; RACIAL PREJUDICE; BIGOTRY;
I talked to old Lem
And old Lem said:
"They weigh the cotton
They store the corn
We only good enough
To work the rows;
They run the commissary
They keep the books
We gotta be grateful
For being cheated;
Whippersnapper clerks
Call us out of our name
We got to say mister
To spindling boys
They make our figgers
Turn somersets
We buck in the middle
Say, 'Thankyuh, sah.'
@3They don't come by ones
They don't come by twos
But they come by tens@1.

"They got the judges
They got the lawyers
They got the jury-rolls
They got the law
@3They don't come by ones@1
They got the sheriffs
They got the deputies
@3They don't come by twos@1
They got the shotguns
They got the rope
We git the justice
In the end
@3And they come by tens@1.
"Their fists stay closed
Their eyes look straight
Our hands stay open
Our eyes must fall
@3They don't come by ones@1
They got the manhood
They got the courage
@3They don't come by twos@1
We got to slink around,
Hangtailed hounds.
They burn us when we dogs
They burn us when we men
@3They come by tens@1. . . .

"I had a buddy
Six foot of man
Muscled up perfect
Game to the heart
@3They don't come by ones@1
Outworked and outfought
Any man or two men
@3They don't come by twos@1
He spoke out of turn
At the commissary
They gave him a day
To git out the county.
He didn't take it.
He said 'Come and get me.'
They came and got him.
@3And they came by tens@1.
He stayed in the county --
He lays there dead.

@3They don't come by ones
They don't come by twos
But they come by tens@1."


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