African American Poets Unit
Day One - Overhead One

Because Everybody Wants to Know
Author Unknown

Prose is a starting pitcher with a game plan. He pitches to each batter differently each time up. His game is full of little dramas: impending catastrophe, escape, tension building, subsiding, building again.

Poetry is a one-inning reliever-- a fireballer, a screwballer, a pitcher with a slider that batters flick their bats at as it breaks a foot outside in the dirt.

Prose is a boxer: jabbing, moving, slipping, stinging, wearing his opponent down. Poetry is a knockout punch; the big left hook that is carried on all the highlight films.

Prose is a song; poetry is a guitar lick every kid can yow-yow with his mouth.

Prose is the Mona Lisa; poetry is the smile.