
To Black Men in Cages!

TO BLACK MEN IN CAGES
WHERE ARE YOU THIS EVENING, MY BROTHER/MYSELF?
AS FIREFLIES CHASE THE SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT AND THE WOODTHRUSH FLOODS OUR TWILIGHT MIST
WITH SUBTLE SYMPHONIES OF SORROW
WHERE ARE YOU THIS EVENING, MY BROTHER/MYSELF
AS I TURN OFF THE LIGHT
LET OUT THE CAT
BRING IN THE DOG
TURN BACK THE SHEETS?
SHOULDN'T YOUR SWEET BLACK HAND
WITH ITS FINE LONG BONES AND MESMERIZING TOUCH
BE HERE UPON MY HIP?
MY EAR AGAINST YOUR CHEST
THE RHYTHM OF YOUR HEART PUMPING NEW LIFE INTO
ME?
WHERE ARE YOU THIS EVENING , MY BROTHER/ MYSELF
AS OUR CHILDREN ROAM THE TERRIBLE STREETS
OF THEIR UNSPOKEN NIGHTMARES?
I BROUGHT THEM UP ON MY WEARY KNEES
' TIL MY KNEES GIVE OUT
AND THE CHILDREN RUN OFF
THEY GOT TOO BIG
THEY COULDN'T SIT THERE NO MO'
SO THEY RUN OFF LOOKIN' FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO DO
LOOKIN' FOR YOU
WHERE ARE YOU THIS EVENING , MY BROTHER/MYSELF?
HAVE THEY RAPED YOUR MIND
AND STOLEN YOUR SOUL
IS THERE NOTHING LEFT OF THE PRIDE
AND THE NOBILITY
AND THE HONOR
THAT WAS OURS
LONG AGO?
WHEN YOUR BODY/MY BODY HUNG FROM
SOUTHERN TREES
AND LADY DAY WROTE SONGS ABOUT
THE STRANGE FRUIT OF THE STRANGE HATRED
THAT PUT US THERE,
WHEN THEY BURNED US AND BEAT US AND
TRIED TO STARVE US OUT,
WHEN THEY MOCKED US AND SCORNED US
LIKE CHRISTIANS IN THE AMPHITHEATRE
FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE EMPEROR
WHEN THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO TAKE FROM US
BUT OUR LIVES,
STILL, MY BROTHER, MYSELF
WE KEPT OUR DIGNITY.
BUT WHERE ARE YOU, NOW, MY BROTHER/MYSELF
AS THE WHITE LADY COCAINE
EXPLODES IN YOUR VEINS
TAKING MY PLACE
RIDING THE HIGH HORSE
WHERE MY MEMORY SHOULD BE?
WHERE ARE YOU NOW, MY BROTHER/MYSELF
WHEN THE DEAL GOES DOWN
SOUR
AND YOUR BLOOD STAINS THE ASPHALT
IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
AND I WAIT FOR YOU, HUNGRILY
WAIT I DO
YES I DO
WHEN THE PRISONS ARE FILLED WITH OUR FUTURE
AND THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AGAINST OUR LOVE
WHERE YOU NOW, MY BROTHER/MYSELF?
AND WHEN WILL YOU COME TO ME?
By:Sedrick Washington