untitled
By Tonya Hegamin (‘99,’00)
From: Black Feathers on Concrete (Based on the form Crown of Sevens created by Kate Rushin)

They call me Firebug--
I burned that girl's coat.

I burned that girl's coat
While she was still in it.

While she was still in it
I lit a match to it

They call me Firebug.

I lit a match to it
And watched her dance in the flame

Watched her dance in the flame
While she was screaming

While she was screaming
I clapped and sang

I lit a match to it.


I clapped and sang
Like we was in church.

Like we was in church:
Me and May and cousin Preston.

Me and May and
Preston said, "Lay down girl, I'm the preacher."

I clapped and sang.


Pres said, "Lay down girl, I'm playin preacher."
Down in the basement

Down in the basement
May layed herself down

May went and layed herself down
Like she was the Virgin Mary

Preston said, "Lay down girl, I'm the preacher."


Like she was the Virgin Mary
And he told me to find some candles

And he told me to light some candles
So we could make her an alter

When we made her an alter
He said, "Now take off her underpants"
Like she was the Virgin Mary.


He told me to take off her underpants
But I wanted to play with the candles instead

I went to play with the candles instead
Cause my mama said don't play with your thangs

My mama said don't play with your thangs
Preston said he would kill me so I did what he said

"Now take off her underpants".


He said he would kill me so I did what he said
May started screaming when he did what he did

But May started screaming when he did what he did
So Preston covered her mouth and I held down her arms

Preston covered her mouth and made me hold down her arms
I kissed her sweet face and whispered in her ear:

They call me Firebug.

Copyright © Tonya Hegamin. All rights reserved. Used with permission of the author.

Tonya Hegamin is a poet and educator in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Poetry. Her forthcoming series, Black Feathers on Concrete, is a truth-based piece which focuses on race and sexuality. Her hobbies include cooking, eating and loving.

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