How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #4
I saw the whole of Baltimore
From May until December;
Of all the things that happened there
That's all that I remember. (9-12)
We sense a feeling of distance from the past in these lines. The incident happened long ago, but doesn't mean that it's not still potent, or hurtful. All the speaker remembers of his time in Baltimore is this one moment in which he came face-to-face with prejudice. This whole chunk of his life is defined by this vile incident. The effects of racism are tangible and long-lasting.