| One
N-guba: boiled goobers |
U
N D E R
G R O U N D
R A I L
R O A D |
Two Cooked on a wooden Stove with unregulated Heat. You’re in the city Houses have bricks not Only at the chimney You are sheltered U. |
| Four
Ones who took more |
Three R. running to the safe House Underground Railroad U. R. free U dine on peanuts Brought with money You stole from the |
|
| Five
Not North Carolina |
Six Tongue, pass your lips Philadelphia, Burlington City, New Haven, Boston Canada, and it is cold You hunger for the Warmth of the familiar |
Salty boiled p-nuts
—
Elijah Pringle III is a Philadelphia-born multidisciplinary artist whose work spans radio, television, stage, and film. Deeply connected to spoken word traditions, he brings a rich background as a dancer, choreographer, actor, director, and vocalist. Formerly a host of “Who Do You Love?”, a talk show on PhillyCAM, he currently serves as an advisor for Moonstone Arts Center. His poetry has been featured in various anthologies including Black Fire―This Time (Aquarius Press/Willow Books, 2024) and Moonstone Arts Center’s 25th Poetry Ink Anthology (Moonstone Press, 2021), as well as Compagnia de’ Colombari’s touring hybrid project Whitman on Walls! (WoW!) where local poets and musicians respond to Walt Whitman’s work. Elijah draws inspiration from his failures and credits his true education to five generations of teachers, whose wisdom continues to shape his voice and vision.
