regarding your account…

our accounting department
has contacted you numerous times
regarding your account
for example
on all your birthdays
right after your graduation
     from college
your first christmas alone
we even sent you postcards
during staff vacations
     a policy not normal
but in your case
we made an exception
this is your final notice
but you need not respond
we have determined that you
were a bad investment
so we’re writing your debt off
this is just our way of saying
this
friendship
is over
don’t bother to call
the account
is closed

During the next few days, I will be on holiday…yes again…so I will be posting very few comments on your blogs…however I shall continue to post new poems here and hope that you will enjoy them.  Until then, cheers!

line sketch…

life line
lines on chart
bus line
stay between lines
line of reasoning
lines of conformity
graduation line
lines the pocket
communication line
lines dropped
front line
lines between sanity and insanity
crossed the line
enemy lines
line of fire
three     short     lines
reception line
lines of sorrow
end-of-the-line
lines of crosses

the gunny sac…

  it’s all here
  the first time
     i was called nigger
and the tears of a four-year old

the lady who
  found my deep voice funny
       and calling others to listen

and there’s that damn swimming pool
   for whites only
       they never did figure out
       who put the red dye in
  some folks just can’t tap dance

and being served last
  or not at all
      even when your were first

and let’s not forget track
  hell…
      let’s do

and here’s that 54 buick with overdrive
  that took us roller skating
      where anyone could be a star
      (with the right moves)

and rev. brown…
  how he tried to save my soul
       but he was heaven bound
       before i could make up my mind
  (oh…but when i did)

i joined the choir
   and what a choir
       if you can get into heaven
       on the amens your singing brings
       (then i’m home free)
      so rev. brown
        don’t you fret

damn here’s my first love
  now that…
       broke a commandments or two
  do you think god understands how stupid
      we are with our first love
       (i pray he does)

women’s underwear?
  yeah…i remember college
  once bound so neatly with dreams
       now frayed and stained with beer and cigarettes

the seams are busting with memories

writing poems with quincy troupe

drinking with alex haley

black showcase performances

meeting muhammad ali
lovers

friends

and others…
  seems impossible
      but nothing seems to be lost
oh sure
  some things seem out-of-place
but they’re all here
  i guess you die when the sac is full
now where can i place
     today…