Trooping The Colors Poem by Donal Mahoney

Since kindergarten Darius and Clarice
have ridden the same bus to school
from the city to way out in the suburbs.
They're the only black kids in 8th grade.
Their schoolmates have welcomed them.

They're best friends and go to parties
as a couple and have a good time.
Some classmates think they're dating
and others don't care and that's fine
with Darius and Clarice.

However, the costume party was difficult.
Neither Darius nor Clarice found anything
they wanted to wear and Darius wasn't sold
right away on Clarice's idea but he finally
agreed they should dye their Afros for the party.

Darius dyed his green and Clarice chose white.
Their colorful Afros were the rage all evening
and they won first prize for best costume.
No one else had come as broccoli and cauliflower.
A coup for a couple who are just best friends.