From “I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies” by June Jordan

From "I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies"
by June Jordan

1.
I will no longer lightly walk behind
a one of you who fear me:
                                      Be afraid.
I plan to give you reasons for your jumpy fits
and facial ties
I will not walk politely on the pavements anymore
and this is dedicated in particular
to those who hear my footsteps
or the insubstantial rattling of my grocery
cart
then turn around
see me
and hurry on

As you can see, a lot of these poems are pulled from a certain website. With all my books packed away in some storage room across the city, I had to some grunt work in digging for poems that would move me and, hopefully, you.

Part of what I loved about June Jordan’s “I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies” is the permission it gives its reader to stop apologizing for the space they’re taking up. Or not blend with the scenery and stand up for oneself. Instead of becoming what is considered comfortable to those around you, Jordan’s words rally for discomfort of those who created the “default.”

You can read “I Must Become a Menace to My Enemies” on Poets.org.