Sapphic Stanza
Ooooh 40's diva...trapped in celluloid-u
gave new meanings to 'grace' and 'distinction'-u
embodied upper class black-ism, honey,
you sho' beautiful!
'House of Atreus' Publishing/2006
*The picture of my friend R. George inspired this piece....thank you Ms. George!
'Shorty'
Hmmmmmmm I see you makin yo way
across the streams of history...
chile you took on blkness and made it
beautiful, made it endearing and lasting...
made us proud to be...proud to live it.
let them tell it...you were too
presumptuous...you were supposed to
hide yo looks and keep yo eyes
downcast,
shuffle yo feet and accompany each
question with:
'a-yes suh,' 'no suh, suh/mastah...'
no amount of
revilement from them quelled yo
firey spirit...chile you danced, walked, talked and
struted yo time just like'em
and in our hearts we were proud...in our minds
we smiled and thank'd the lawd for
givin' us one up over'em.
...Hey now, mulatto beauty...
yo profile is captured on every cerebral wall...
we see you in yo own clothes...
and babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
you wear
individuality well!
got me chucklin' in my spirit
thinkin of how diff'rent you be...how unique
you are; and you got to be in
a world where racism is still about as subtle as sunlight
in yo eye and evry'body
looks, acts, talks and walks the same.
Suga-foot...wear yo individuality...put on yo
name and comb yo hair with the
knowledge of who you is inside and out...
you are beautiful 'cause you are
blk history in its truest form;
you aint forgot where you came from and you damn
sho' aint forgot who
you been, will be and most important...
...who you are!
'House of Atreus' Publishing/2006
