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1967 (poem)

By Christine Hague

The dudes ran all the way
from Harlem, chanting
"Hell no. We won't go!"
In Central Park
the white girls in white
blouses, no makeup, no earrings,
as instructed, stood
politely.

From a distant stage
the voice of protest
filled the sweet Spring air:
Immoral war
imperialist aggression
must be stopped. The crowd,
restless, raised
clenched fists.

In the end, the black boys
from Harlem were drafted:
the white girls, married,
live in fine houses.