The American Cancer Society Or There Is More Than One Way To Skin A Coon

Of all the ways in which this country

Prints its death upon me

Selling me cigarettes is one of the most certain.

Yet every day I watch my son digging

ConEdison GeneralMotors GarbageDisposal

Out of his nose as he watches a 3 second spot

On How To Stop Smoking

And it makes me sick to my stomach.

For it is not by cigarettes

That you intend to destroy my children.

Not even by the cold white light of moon-walks

While half the boys I knew

Are doomed to quicker trips by a different capsule;

No, the american cancer destroys

By seductive and reluctant admission

For instance

Black women no longer give birth through their ears

And therefore must have A Monthly Need For Iron:

For instance

Our Pearly teeth are not racially insured

And therefore must be Gleemed For Fewer Cavities:

For instance

Even though all astronauts are white

Perhaps Black People can develop

Some of those human attributes

Requiring

Dried dog food frozen coffee instant oatmeal

Depilatories deodorants detergents

And other assorted plastic.

And this is the surest sign I know

That the american cancer society is dying—

It has started to dump its symbols onto Black People

Convincing proof that those symbols are now useless

And far more lethal than emphysema.