A Southerner Living in Vancouver, poem by Karen Southall Watts at Spillwords.com
Matt Wang

A Southerner Living in Vancouver

A Southerner Living in Vancouver

written by: Karen Southall Watts

@askkaren

 

There’s only a trace of drawl left in my voice,
Unless I’m very tired,
But it’s enough to perk up the ears of folks on the west coast.
Folks who then feel free to ask,
“Is what I saw on the news true?”
“Did you vote for that guy?”
“Aren’t you glad you escaped those loons?”
And no matter how many stories I tell about country dawns,
Buttermilk biscuits, kindness and Southern charm,
Or cardinals flitting around the porch,
I am forced to admit the racist uncle trope
Did not spring from the ground without cause.
And that just under the veneer of hospitality
Burbles a history of ugly hostility,
That Southerners must tangle with daily
Lest we lose our souls.
I have spent years of days explaining the unexplainable
Stupefied by the unforgivable,
And trying to show by example
“We’re not all like that.”

Subscribe to our Newsletter at Spillwords.com

NEVER MISS A STORY

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER AND GET THE LATEST LITERARY BUZZ

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Latest posts by Karen Southall Watts (see all)