you nod
your head
when
we speak
but
you don’t hear us
that
painful look
of
understanding
on
your face
won’t
be
your saving grace
it
just shows
that
how
we speak
makes you
believe
you know
something about us
fictitious facts
drawn
from all those
historical
stereotypes
but
you
don’t know
us
the subdued sounds
of
our voices
conceal much
and
only
reveal
what
we wish
to be seen
verbal
camouflage
masking out
the sound
of
a fuse
that’s
already
been
lit
i lie here among severed spines from lynchings and shattered skulls from clubs and shotgun blasts so i’ve grown tired of all the rhetoric all the promises written on the wind words i’ve heard over and over and over again words that are no more than sterile seeds so i’ve learned there will be no harvest of freedom for only the chaff of hope has been planted into the cracking clay of tomorrow the husk of dreams left there along side these blood stained bones of mine
when paradise is just a deserted roadside stand with decaying timbers holding dried promises in bins of deferred dreams how do you rally for existence what encouragement do you derive from the drought ridden landscape of tomorrow that makes you rise from bed stare into the mirror and dress as if the new day holds anymore promise than the day before and most likely less yet you rise smile dress and proceed ah but the key i think is you don’t ask why
along
the street
i saw
eyes
that
many
divert
theirs from
eyes
that hold
well worn dreams
and
tears of hope
that
what passes
as
normal
today
will soon become
a forgotten
nightmare
and
those looks
of
there but for the grace of god
will be
replaced
by a lover’s
embrace
and
looks
of
commitment
for
a life
together
those looks
of
love
really not
that
much to ask for
is
it
please stay
in
your
designated line
divine blessings
on
earth
are allotted
according to
your position
in line
but
rest assured
that
you’ll
be
given
a fair share
of
life’s bounty
upon
your souls passing
into
the chimeric promised land
a sure guarantee
from those
who
oppressed you
during
your time
on
earth
have you found
your
dried tears
or
have they been
caught up
in the winds
of
time
circling
above
your tomorrows
but
falling
today
to blind you
like
an ocean fog
to
where
you are
or
could be
tell me what will happen to all the dreams stranded on the side of life’s road tell me will anyone find them gather them up and carry them into tomorrow
Read Between the Minds 