Locomotion

In “Lili’s New Mama’s House,” Lonnie reflects on how he’s constantly looking for God, as Lili asked him to do. He recognizes God when a warm bus arrives quickly in the cold weather and when he sees his sister. In the living room of Lili’s new house, Lonnie is careful to act properly so that her adoptive mother won’t think poorly of him. As the sun shines in the window, Lonnie is happy that his sister has a nice home to live in, and he tells her that God is present. In “Church,” Lonnie describes going to church on Sundays with Miss Edna and one day surreptitiously writing the word “hope” on his hand.

In the next two poems, Lonnie recounts the strengths of those around him at school. First, in “New Boy Poem IV,” he labels Clyde’s soccer talents as magical. In “Teacher of the Year,” a television news crew comes to their classroom because Ms. Marcus has won the award. Lonnie hears the reporter praising Ms. Marcus for working with “underserved” youth, and the kids know that the man is calling them poor. When Angel is interviewed, he talks about his father, who reads to him and buys him expensive sneakers.