Your skin like dawn

the slats leave dents of darknessdeep in their withered flanks.They nod like broken candlesall waxed and burnt profoundthey say ‘It’s understandingthat makes the world go round.’There in those pleated facesI see the auction blockthe chains and slavery’s cofflesthe whip and lash and stock.My Fathers speak in voicesthat shred my fact and soundthey say ‘It’s our…

How to find my soul a homeWhere water is not thirstyAnd bread loaf is not stoneI came up with one thingAnd I don’t believe I’m wrongThat nobody,But nobodyCan make it out here alone.Alone, all aloneNobody, but nobodyCan make it out here alone.There are some millionairesWith money they can’t useTheir wives run round like bansheesTheir children…

Till the current ends and dips his wingIn the orange suns raysAnd dares to claim the sky.But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cageCan seldom see through his bars of rageHis wings are clipped and his feet are tiedSo he opens his throat to sing.The caged bird sings with a fearful trillOf things unknown…

to lead and followyoubeyond this rage of poetry.Let others havethe privacy oftouching wordsand love of lossof love.For meGive me your hand.

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…

My life has been one great big joke,A dance that’s walkedA song that’s spoke,I laugh so hard I almost chokeWhen I think about myself.Sixty years in these folks’ worldThe child I works for calls me girlI say ‘Yes ma’am’ for working’s sake.Too proud to bendToo poor to break,I laugh until my stomach ache,When I think…