Unit 2: Selection Vocabulary 3

He listened to the motor, tilting his head from side to side like a parrot, trying to detect any noises that spelled car trouble.

The pot had many dents and nicks, and the more dents and nicks it acquired the more Mamá liked it.

Since Papá did not speak English, Mamá asked the camp foreman if he needed any more workers.

I woke up early that morning and lay in bed, looking at the stars and savoring the thought of not going to work and of starting sixth grade for the first time that year.

“Would you like to read?” he asked hesitantly.

Just once
my father stopped on the way
into the house from work
and joined in the softball game
we were having in the street,
and attempted to play in our
game that his country had never
known.

Just once
and the day stands out forever
in my memory
as a father’s living gesture
to his son,
that in playing even the fool
or the clown, he would reveal
that the lines of their lives
were sewn from a tougher fabric
than the son had previously known.

Just once
and the day stands out forever
in my memory
as a father’s living gesture
to his son,
that in playing even the fool
or the clown, he would reveal
that the lines of their lives
were sewn from a tougher fabric
than the son had previously known.

Just once
and the day stands out forever
in my memory
as a father’s living gesture
to his son,
that in playing even the fool
or the clown, he would reveal
that the lines of their lives
were sewn from a tougher fabric
than the son had previously known.

Just once
and the day stands out forever
in my memory
as a father’s living gesture
to his son,
that in playing even the fool
or the clown, he would reveal
that the lines of their lives
were sewn from a tougher fabric
than the son had previously known.

At a time when there was not tv before 3:00 P.M.
And on Sunday none until 5:00
We sat on the front porches watching
The jfg sign go on and off greeting
The neighbors, discussing the political
Situation congratulating the preacher
On his sermon

There was always the radio which brought us
Songs from wlac in nashville and what we would now call
Easy listening or smooth jazz but when I listened
Late at night with my portable (that I was so proud of)
Tucked under my pillow

Probably they said something humiliating since southern
Whites like to humiliate southern blacks

But she nonetheless brought the books
Back and I held them to my chest
Close to my heart
And happily skipped back to grandmother’s house
Where I would sit on the front porch
In a gray glider and dream of a world
Far away

And Mrs. Long opened that wardrobe
But no lions or witches scared me