Sticky School Bus Bench

The day I said nigger
I was old enough to know better
But too young to acknowledge my ignorance
Intended as a joke for my neighbor
On that sticky school bus bench

The day I say nigger
Self-indulgent laughter is the pin dropping
Vinny Foster tells me I oughta be punched
I wince away the sting until
The hum of my peers resumes

Because I said the n-word
I avoid controversy, step on no toes
I will not be the reason someone must
Gaze out the smeared windows and cry silently.
Maybe, again, that will be me.