CLARENCE AND KETANJI

 

Apparently high on the list
Of Justice Clarence Thomas’ dislikes
Are mouthy Black Women
That would help explain
His recent outpouring
Of barely restrained verbal venom
 
The outpouring was in a concurring opinion
About the Court’s removal of affirmative action
As acceptable criteria for college admission
 
In his concurring opinion
Justice Thomas specifically named
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson eighteen times
Most of them with disparaging language untamed
 
In her first year on the Court
Justice Jackson has been
An unusually active verbal participant
Much more so than Clarence
Who for years was mostly dormant
 
So he’s probably been fuming and seething
For the last year
And the vituperation finally flowed
Clarence, maybe you should consider retirement
Afterall, Ketanji’s just getting in gear
 
Say, wasn’t there another
Strong-willed Black Woman in Clarence’s past?
Hard to recall
Time goes by so fast