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Beulah's smile
I recall her
warm hands holding mine
encircling
six year old white boy
she called me Billy
am I the last
remembering her?
Beulah’s smile
catching the sunlight
she called me Billy
no, not the last
surely her children
sing of her
never caring that
she called me Billy
I know nothing
a black woman’s life
40s LA
up from the deep south
she called me Billy
pale child’s Dilsey
holding centred love
not moaning
sound and fury songs
she called me Billy
when I am gone
and my children ask
who is she?
they now will know that
I called her Beulah
​
​
Paul Levy
​
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