Whose Side Are You On?
Lucille Clifton
the side of the busstop woman
trying to drag her bag
up the front steps before the doors
clang shut i am on her side
i give her exact change
and him the old man hanging by
one strap his work hand folded shut
as the bus doors i am on his side
when he needs to leave
i ring the bell i am on their side
riding the late bus into the same
someplace i am on the dark side always
the side of my daughters
the side of my tired sons
“whose side are you on?” from quilting poems 1987-1990. Copyright © 1991 by Lucille Clifton. via Poetry Society of America
