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I am four
Leaving my
Home in the
Red earth of
Louisiana’s Red
River headed for
The gently flowing
Rivers and rolling prairies
Of southern Illinois already
Formed to learn taught by my
Elder sisters about the arts
Of plausible deniability,
How to lie & believe
One’s own lies but
Discern the lies
Of others in
The 1940s
Deep
South where
Joel Chandler Harris’
Uncle Remus stories come
To life daily in a society steeped
In kindness and cruelty that
Believes its own lies with
Religious fervor leaving
Me forever viewing
Life from these
First four long
Learning
Years.