Nikki Giovanni
Ten Years Old
I paid my thirty cents
And rode by the bus window all the way down
I felt a little funny with no hair on my head
But my knees were shining cause Aunty Mabel cleaned me up
And I got off on time
And walked past the lions and the guard straight up to the desk
And said, "Doctor Dolittle stereoscope, please."
And this really old woman said, "Do you have a library card"
And I said, "I live here up the street"
And she said, "Do you have a library card"
And I said, "This is the only place I can use the stereoscope for Doctor Dolittle. Ms. Washington brought us here this spring to see it"
And another lady said, "Give the boy what he want, he want to lead the race"
And I said, "No, ma'am. I want to see Doctor Dolitte"
And she said, "same thing son, same thing"