While going back home from the vigil on Friday, this man stopped me on the sidewalk to ask about my armband and my view. Then he asked if I liked poetry, and following my positive response, recited two of his own poems. I think his work was great, and it’s a shame that this talent had trouble for the very basics of life (struggling for food/shelter, recently out of jail, ... according to himself). The whole purpose of this post is to ask for input about possible ways to support him.
He gave me one of his autographed poems to “take back home.” :) I’m quoting him below.
Technically, I don’t have his consent to distribute this. All rights reserved by the poet.
CHAOS
in my part
of town
we creep
among cockroaches rats
we creep
among cockroaches rats
brawling dogs
‘neath glutenous skies
soft human shadows
blending
into the chaos
that will be tomorrow
where we see
screaming blues
frayed hunting eyes
aching billyclubs
and patent-leathered shoes
the ones they used to pound
natty dreads into the underground
railroad tracks that no longer
leads to safety
leaving us scourged and slashed
wit’ tongues pulled out
like melons calling it justice
