Not so wonderful...world (In the wake of the Michael Brown decision)

I see Dreams deferred
hopes been denied
justice blindsided...
                           while children died
and I think to myself
it's a
not so wonderful world
think to myself
not so wonderful
seen hate be allowed
                            to fester and grow
cameras confusing people
with the pictures they show
and I think to myself
it's a
not so wonderful world
think to myself
it is all not so wonderful
world

He was a demon charging at me
he said
I feared for my life...
he said
and a jury of his peers said
he had done no wrong
grand in their decision said
the supposed prosecutor as he grandstanded
on stage
there will be no indictment of him
he said
he said his acts were lawful
and there was probable cause
for all his acts had caused
destruction, division, death...
to a child...a son...a friend
death...
to dreams-to faith-to community
death to an unarmed teen
is murder...
murder we said
as we stood in solidarity
in front of a house of cards
a building of false pretense
where the law pretends to defend the defenseless
outside we said
maybe today
on this night we believed
ever so slightly
that justice may prevail
maybe
yet they said the prevalence of evidence
was overwhelmingly in his favor
we said it always is
it seems
or it is...always
and it seems we had no more to say
and the President says this is a land of law
he said that something good can come out of this
but we said we have heard it all
before
why?
he has said it...already
after Trayvon, after Jordan, after-insert name here
and regardless of our fear we no longer
hear him...
on this night we are deaf to the conversation
but it is as if there are echoes amongst us
they all kept saying protest peacefully
non-violence is key
even the prosecutor said, while smirking at the podium, that we welcome peace
He said peace was welcome
as tear gas rained down
he said peace was welcome
as they prepared for war
weapons drawn
arms raised in defense of property
familiar...we said
like arms raised in defense of bullet shells shot
from a distance
his flesh could not resist the penetration
and as he fell forward
the final shot was fired...
smoked
unlike the $5 cigars he was never proven to steal
yet they said...in so many words, he got what
he deserved
as did we
what we deserve...
injustice we said
why?
they said it...already
Dred Scott set that stage
no rights he is bound to respect
nor life he is bound to protect
that is what it said
so it seemed
he said the same
and we have nothing
else to say
everyone has said
enough
as the fire burns
and the tears fall
enough
and as the victim is crucified
and the community blamed
enough
and as a mother's heart aches
and a father's soul dies
enough...
to God they do proclaim
and under our breath
and in our hearts
we say
the same...

I see Dreams deferred

hopes been denied

justice blindsided...

                           while children died

and I think to myself

it's a

not so wonderful world

think to myself

not so wonderful

seen hate be allowed 

                            to fester and grow

cameras confusing people 

with the pictures they show

and I think to myself 

it's a 

not so wonderful world 

think to myself

it is all not so wonderful

world

RMC

Copyright 2014

Dolo

To chill by oneself; kick it alone; ride solo; sans wingman, homie or g (girl, wifey, good good).  Dolo, with no intention but to just be amongst many and not be...present but not accounted for.  This is my status at this moment and it is cool.  Little brew in hand, my homeboy en route, listening to the sound of the city.  Sometimes you just gotta roll this way...

Father...

Humbled by the blessings bestowed upon my person
not certain that I am deserving
but no need to question the gift of my
child's existence
nor to speculate on the allowance of the one
on the way
mine is to protect and cherish each of them
to honor and uphold
to teach, love, develop and mold
and to be
present
every day of their lives
whether near or far my responsibility
is to provide
to give enough of me that they are better prepared
for everything
even the unknown and unseen
to offer them space to become all that they
imagine within their dreams
while allowing dreams to be believed
to never lie, cheat or mislead...
to increase their opportunities
by capitalizing on my own
be the only role model that it is necessary for them to
know
show them respect and affection,
care and sympathy
to wipe their tears, chase away their fears...
provide shelter, clothes and food to eat
to be a man
understanding that I am and will always be their the first example of
to introduce them to God, his precious son...and acknowledge the angels and ancestors
above
but most importantly and beyond all else
to respect and love their mother
for she is the half of my whole
and as that relationship flourishes
so too does the nourishment flow to our
babies...
born to the world as blessings bestowed
by my Father
to I and she
so I pray the efforts I make
for my children
are in gratitude for all that has been done for me...
so humble I am to have received these gifts
I will love them forever
and beyond
eternity

Daddy loves you Cameron and Logan

Copyright 2014

You...

Who I know not yet,
yet I am aware that you are here
already
scared...I am I guess but that may not
seem to make sense
at the present time
time has passed so fast
and the last time I knew of one like you
well I felt somewhat the same
excited yet
responsible still, and even more so now
that you are near
here even
but some how on the way
coming
so to speak
and I await your arrival
thrilled that you would choose me to be with
as if we are connected
as if you are a part of me
you
are
I know this in my heart
and mind
soul centered on acceptance
of blessings bestowed on my person
am I deserving of God's favor
of you
at all
I wish to be
so in that wish I must prepare
for your arrival
make a place for you amongst the space
within my space
thoughts, emotions, chambers
of my being
allow room for you
but it is ironic
I find that you are already
there
present
as if you arrived while I was sleeping
traveling within my dreams
with nothing...
no baggage
naked to the world you are
clothed in the hopes and intentions
of a people long past
ancestral images cast upon your face
your likeness
familiar
yet unique
never seen before
new
beautiful
and fear has vacated my being
you are an illusion
of tomorrow
the hope within my vision
and I am in love with my imagination
for you dwell there
but only for an instant
for you are near
hear your heart beat when I breathe
so I inhale silently
to draw you close
a reflection of all that is to be
you
a reflection
of all that is good within
me

Ray Crawford
Copyright 2014