BACK-TRACKING TUESDAY . . . LADIES OF THE 80's . . .

The following is my first published piece. It appeared in the March 1986 issue of Memphis State's (now the University of Memphis) Black Student Association Journal.

I don't/can't write poetry. Believe me, I do know this and I have nothing but respect for those of you who can and do. So, let's just call this a prose piece (smile). The piece holds the honor of bringing me into contact with my very first fan. About six months or so after it was published, I was coming up out of the basement of either Clement or Patterson Hall (before you go getting it twisted, they had classes down there, y'all) when I bumped into a brother who said, "Hey, I know you. Didn't you write that poem (his words, not mine), 'Ladies of the 80's' that was in the BSA journal earlier this year?" I think he even went onto recite a few lines. I was like, "Dag, you still remember that?" It was a nice moment. Anyway, here's the piece. As always, feel free to comment.

We Are The Ladies Of The 80's

by

Lori D. Johnson

Remember our first few years?

From Sunday afternoons in the park to Friday and Saturdays after dark

we played long and hard

saving any seriousness until our final year

like spoiled, fun-loving children who hurriedly rush to clean house

moments before their parents' arrival.

The world was ours to conquer and divide.

Armed with the false security of innocence and youth

we plunged tongue first

into heated discussions about what we wanted

from life

from men

from one another

and from ourselves.

We wasted money, time and tears

in our awkward and often bitter ascent

toward something called womanhood

learning one miserable lesson after another

from the mistakes--

our own

and those of our sisters.

Filled with all the thrill and terror

of babies, abortions, broken hearts and passion marks

each Alice emerged

from her own personal Wonderland

with a blues song of her own to sing.

Admid the rubble and debris

of broken promises, failing grades, sorrows, defeats and unfulfilled dreams

the seeds of maturity found a place to blossom

and now

looking back

we laugh at our efforts

question our motivies

and reflect upon our gains.

Yes, we are the Ladies of the 80's.

Brown-sugared, and honey-coated.

Hard to handle

difficult to hold

and so, so full of ourselves.

With our heads thrown back

a bit of sass in our hips

a touch of sparkle in our eyes

and rekindled fires in our hearts

we walk into the wind

knowing the journey will be hard

and full of disappointments

but each one realizing

that we have evolved from a long history of struggle.

And like those before us

we too

will survive.