black students aren't afraid of easy time

Black Students aren't afraid of Easy time

fiction
edward w pritchard

Down the road came a smilin teenage black man
and he sang me his jaunty song
he said teacher
Six months ain't no sentence
and one year it ain't no time
and I said
My friend, your young and fearless
but there's high school boys out in Angola
Starting with one year
and it grows to 99
and that cell it ain't no schoolroom
and a jail is never easy time
So when the policeman comes jinglin handcuffs
Remember your old teacher
who told you, what to say and do
He said to call the man officer
and answer yes sir
and if he asks you to;
salute with your left hand
and nod politely and lower your eyes
and say the fault was really mine
and when your regular teacher tells you
keep your head down
and mind your manners
and things will be just fine