In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:
I remember
Hyacinth L. Andersen (bio)
I remember feeling poorwhile growing uphaving to use my siblings’ hand-me-downsregardless of sexhow I longed for a banana-seat bikelike the kids in the neighborhoodrode onand parents whodoled out quarters for arcade gamesfrom a porcelain dish on the dresserbut that was not my realitymoney was always tight in our houseit was always explained whyI couldn’t have such thingsbills needed to be paid, money tithed to the churchfor prayers unansweredmy dad returning to collegeto get a degree in the hope of obtaining a promotionthat would never comea promotion that was supposed tolift us out of povertyand make us middle classlike the kids in the neighborhoodwho taunted youabout not having a banana bikeor quarters for the arcadebut on Christmas Day each yearI was allowed to eat as much cakeas I wanted and drink a bellyful of sodawhen extended family would gather togetherat Grandma’s houseand poverty would be forgottenand gifts from aunties would be openedand on that dayI felt like the kids in my neighborhood [End Page 237]
Hyacinth L. Andersen
Hyacinth L. Andersen writes poetry and short stories in her spare time. Her work has appeared in Black Magnolias Literary Journal, TimBookTu, and Vocal.media.
期刊介绍:
As the official publication of the Division on Black American Literature and Culture of the Modern Language Association, the quarterly journal African American Review promotes a lively exchange among writers and scholars in the arts, humanities, and social sciences who hold diverse perspectives on African American literature and culture. Between 1967 and 1976, the journal appeared under the title Negro American Literature Forum and for the next fifteen years was titled Black American Literature Forum. In 1992, African American Review changed its name for a third time and expanded its mission to include the study of a broader array of cultural formations.