A Fresh Start

Lightening, flash and thunder roar
Light and dark patterns roll by
My landscape is changed.

As my past dies, my future begins.
Yesterday is a rival of a newborn day.

This is my chance, this is my sway,
To close the door on mistakes.
To start afresh is my promise made.

Ole to Pride

Ole’ to Gordon Parks and the men and women
Black with gifted hearts.
To have seen him in his prime
to have known talent so divine.

I wish I could have been there
when Harlem was new.

I wish I could have seen
Langston and Maya
The “Count and Lady”
All that creativity, the birth of expression.

The poetry, the words and lyrics
The art of art, photographs and paintings.

These were the gifted minds of a thriving
place and yes a time.
Gordan Parks, Dorothy Dandrige, Eartha Kit
Sidney Poitier’, and Bea so divine.

These were our giants, Titian’s of black history.
legends out of time.

They gave us ourselves,
before the marches before the equality
of a long struggle.
They gave us, us.

The heart and soul of a people
at a time when it wasn’t cool to be black.

These giants showed the world
it was a gift to be black.
As they sang “to be young gifted and black.”
They showed us all.

Yes to be young gifted and black
I call the role and listen to the affirming reply.

Billy Extine…Present
Marcus Garvey…Present
Sarah Vaughn…Present
Mahalia Jackson…Present

I call the role
Matthew Henson and Ossie Davis…Present

Butterfly McQueen…Present
Ruby Keyler…Present
Bill Bo jangles…Present
Lena Horn…present

On and on the role was called
on and on the gifts were given.

On and on it goes
until the end of time
ole to a people most gifted
and divine.

Me in my coat

The weather demands a proper wrap
against the winds chilling slap.
So bundled up
in my corduroy coat
scarf and hat, the wind
I hope to smote.
A smile upon my face
with warm resolve I brace,
to scale old man winters moat.
Me in my coat!