you dancing gigglin’ from your knees
moving that head spasmodically
bucking those hips from side to side
steppin’ then glidin’ oh my oh my
why you tryin’ to fly
compressing and contorting to n’ fro
look at cha waitin’ to go
yet those demons say hell no
stars bursting brightness from on high
reaching down to you as you sigh
confusion conjures illusions beckons with fantasies
reality jolts and whispers remember me
ghosts swirl around banshees wailin’
flailin’ ships rock to n fro
bodies cast into the liquid cold
tree limbs stretched taut under limp body sway
holy blood drips on forehead
It happens day by day
Yearning to escape
our unpaid bodies bent pulling wealth
out of the ground
it’s still here Just look around
bodies locked down in penitentiaries
yet ancient ways are kept
for when we truly want to be free
spirits of ancestors whisper to you “why”
rhythms of celebrations
honor truth education
millenniums of lineage
praise the sacred libation
symbols carved into stone reflect how we grown
all you have to be is sincere enough to respect our own
discard the confusion forsake the illusion come back home at last
but first you have to do something for self-respect to take up the task
you got to strip for me all that is holding you back
you got to love yourself beyond what you see we have to be together to end this misery
clouds in your path ain’t no mystery
you have to cast aside that self-hate
you got to stop brutalizing to change our fate
you got to think positive yet understand the negativity
you got to talk not shout and listen that’s what conversatin’ is all about
you got to show restraint and stand tall with new found dignity
you got to organize mobilize and build a community
you got to love and respect one another if you truly want to be free
strip for me then fortify yourself
glory is all around you not on a bookshelf
the spirit within let it shine for all to see
it binds us let it be
believe in it and you’ll see
Bob Doughtie 4/8/2016
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