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big hairy armpits
Alabama
the Bible Belt
caricatured in
“sophisticated” media
as a land of men in
camo tank tops
and the women
who obey them
I feel lucky to be here
in the birthplace of
Nat Cole and Hank Williams
where Selma
Montgomery
Birmingham
are more than places
in a history book
they’re real
full of people
who still remember
what it was like
to bleed
for a righteous cause
my accent may give away
my status as an immigrant
but no one seems to mind
and none of my Southern friends
has ever made fun of the North
18 February 2013
Auburn, AL
/ / /
I wrote this poem based on idea #71 from Charles Bernstein’s Experiments. Don Levy suggested the title and topic.
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