40 Years Long

I could cry...
40 years
long...
a cursed song.
What a fight
40 years of night...
always missing the light.

Why Lord why?

We believe the lies
and never try.
In circles we go
there was no Jericho
only dry dessert land.
Thrist
nearly kill we!
It took a rock.
Still we were loud
and wrong
not strong
we did not believe the Big Man.

40 long years
even after the splitting sea
it took one generation
long...
before we see
touch the Promise Land.

My Twilight

                     For Mrs. J

Now is the twilight
of my life
the shadows
overshadow
me.
A few
stubborn
rays cling to the gray
hairs that adorn 
my crown.

Eighty-nine years.

I have travelled far,
seen many 
wonderous sights.
Felt
life pulsing
in, around, between
through me.

When I cannot see
you as you are
I see you
as you were.
What a sight!

When the light get's too bright
I sink in the shadows
and glow
with stories of old.
Now in my Twilight.

Black

My power comes from you
my strength is hewn
from your relentless authority
I see myself now
as priority.
I am important
I'm a big deal.
I know where I stand
on the pinnacle
of power
that I can command
the very devil
to disbanned
and flee
from me.
No need to chop
nor toe
the line
I find
my peace
I know I will not cease
in the beauty of your lines
and shadows.
I am Black.

A Series of Unfortunate Events?

Yes!
To freedom
I shimmy
I glide,
plier
etendre
releve
sauter
tourney
elancer
just watch me stride.
A puddle
in my way?
oh no,
nothing to stop my shine.
Too fast!
But the beat...
Too high!
But the breeze...
I squeal!
I reach!
Pure delight.

Midway
I freeze...
Oh no!
my steam!
That Je ne sais quoi...
Gone.
now,
how,
do I dance with me?

But for the Grace of God

There goes a young boy
with spring in his cheeks
and the glow of the Sun 
he sees an old soul
going slow
not vital enough
to make a show
sweeps him aside
"Old man you must go 
death awaits!"
The old man shakes his head
he understands
seeing brings the young dread - 
they too one day - if they survive -
will be like him.
There is too much pain today
and so
into the corner he is swept for days
on end.
Then he goes further 
up the road -
an accident.
Slowly he moves closer.
Ah it is the young man!
His glow now diminshed
winter haunts him now
He has been brought to an early
end:
"there but for the grace of God go I"