DADDY TAUGHT ME By Tom Jensen
When I was little
My daddy dressed me in white
He said so he could lead me
Through the darkness and into the light
Mama washed my clothes
Nearly every day
For I'd get them dirty
Whenever I'd play
She told me that if it wasn't white
Then it wasn't good
If the whether got chilly
She'd pull up my hood
Mama told me of Jesus and God
And of Heaven divine
I asked if I'd go there
And she said I'd be fine
She said I was pure
And God made me snow
And that angels would follow me
Wherever I'd go
I couldn't wait to see God
And tell him what was on my mind
I even tried praying a couple of times
But church was much different
Than what I ever though it would be
We'd have mass outside
And we'd light a big 'T'
I had so much fun
When we’d march in parades
Then we'd set fire
To the crosses we made
And I love the holidays
They fill me with cheer
We loved Halloween so much
We had it twenty times a year
For some reason I was always a ghost
Must be the costume my mama liked most
Funny how no one ever got scared
Even when I was trying
Oh, there was that one….
The little girl who was crying
I'm not even sure why
She had tears in her eyes
I really scared her good
I must have caught her by surprise
I can't wait to get older
And be a daddy some day
I'll teach these games to my kids
And the whole family will play
When I get older...
I'll be the best daddy I can be
I just hope I can teach my kids as good
As my daddy taught me
(note to reader - just so we are clear: This poem is written from the perspective of a young white child raised by members of the K.K.K.)