1976 Just Play

By Kim Vaughn

“Guess who?” you had asked, again, hands over my eyes

a moment of joy, you felt, as I feigned surprise

it mattered to you, sage one, to be seen inside

an innocent game, you played, to nurture your pride

 

I wish you had known, my friend, that I loved your smile

the kids who teased you, sweet girl, were stupid and vile

you’re my first lesson, of grit, in this course called hate

I didn’t get it, oh no, I couldn’t relate

 

You must have learned first, pure heart, the world is unkind

your skin was noticed, bright girl, instead of your mind

they turned you away, and still, you stayed by my side

we were the outcasts, oh yeah, but you couldn’t hide

 

At recess we stood, good friend, our backs to the wall

you gathered courage, brave soul, to approach them all

while I harbored fear, and shrank, you became more bold

you strove to be seen, in vain, for they grew more cold

 

I was the odd one, we knew, but you shared your space

you gave me value, you see, I grew from your grace

in time you were gone, sweet soul, I still wonder why

when I reminisce, these days, I feel I might cry

 

What happened to you, in life, when time raced ahead?

I hope you receive, two-fold, the joy that you spread

may you know success, fierce one, and let it portray

the life you deserve, dear friend, where you can just play!

 

“I wrote this poem about what racism looked like to me as a white kid in 1976. I had a mixed-race friend in the second grade who was treated differently. I was stumped at the time, but by High School I understood. The concentric theme is compassion because while our peers showed little compassion for her struggle, she sweetly accepted my awkward, weird eight-year-old self. I will always remember her bubbly disposition and, oddly, the scent of her lotion-soft hands over my eyes.”

Kim Vaughn is a trained pastry chef who continues to work in the culinary field. She now has replaced cake decorating and recipe development with painting and writing poetry. She earned her degree in general academics and culinary arts at South Seattle College in 1995. Poetry, for Kim, is a hybrid of language, musicality and math.

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