Playing Hopscotch . . . and Counting . . .

      Growing up on a Pennsylvania farm gave me lots of opportunities to use mathematics -- counting sheep, choosing patterns for planting, and many kitchen tasks.  I also enjoyed occasional times to join friends at in-town playgrounds and, on their paved areas, hopscotch was one of our arithmetical and geometrical activities.  Recently I came across a wonderful online collection of poems by Maya Angelou (1928 - 2014) -- and, within it, this slightly mathy poem that includes hopscotch and also speaks of racial injustice:  

     Harlem Hopscotch    by Maya Angelou

     One foot down, then hop! It's hot.
     Good things for the ones that's got.
     Another jump, now to the left.
     Everybody for hisself.  

     In the air, now both feet down.
     Since you black, don't stick around.
     Food is gone, the rent is due,
     Curse and cry and then jump two.

     All the people out of work,     
     Hold for three, then twist and jerk.
     Cross the line, they count you out.
     That's what hopping's all about.

     Both feet flat, the game is done.
     They think I lost. I think I won.

Follow this link for lots more of Angelou's poetry.

This link leads to two of Angelou's poems previously included in this blog.