“Nope” by Adrian Blevins, poetry, ’02

A poem by Adrian Blevins (poetry, ’02) appears in The Baffler:

 

 

Nope

As for yes I’ve been against it
since ballet & I refused to leap
like a little white flag in the gym
& I refused to skate on blades
if there was ice which there was not
& I refused to ride in the backs of trucks
& did not kill my mother & father
& did not not want to either
& did not wear red bandannas
or gyrate with tassel & baton
in the Jesus parade or go door to door
with The Old Farmer’s Almanac… [continue reading here]