We Real Cool, Too

To my nephews Bo and Jonny, the Wanta-bes

We walk with our pants so low
that we can shovel the snow.
We talk the talk, but can’t walk the walk.

In this small town, we’re the meanest,
the baddest, the all-around maddest.
We’re the wanta-be gangsters.
We stay out late to show our parents
we’re full of hate.

We stay up late to hear our music of hate
because we’re grounded . . . confounded!
The phone rings . . . ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling,
ling . . . ling . . . ling.

It’s my homey.
“Where’s the meanest, the baddest, the all-around maddest?”

“Homey’s at home, tonight.
Homey’s grounded . . .
Confounded!”

Carroll Howling Wolf is a certified water treat­ment operator for the state of North Dakota and the Three Affiliated Tribes. He is majoring in Environmental Science at Fort Berthold Community College.