The Last Poets
Certain Images
[Poem]
The stink of conspiracy fills the air. Devious eyes open in
The dark. Searching, groping, looking for ways to enslave
Shoot them, stab them, choke them, kill them. These traits
These values, these fantasies that have left us wallowing in
The realms of distortion. Look at all the wildflowers smiling
Secretly from the cracks of their souls. Looking at life
Through one way mirrors. Guarding their tenderness,against
Attacks from themselves. Gaming in the eyes of
Dissatisfaction. Finding comfort and compassion in the
Sanctuary of Mastercharge. Three cheers for the almighty
Dollar! Dark clouds on the horizon. Understanding is being
Dashed against the rocks. The ripples of the sea are bringing
Forth blood. We must cling to the sun blades of the past. We
Must find ourselves in the warmth of a lover's kiss
Struggling to feel. Struggling to breathe. Struggling to stay
A human being. Long live the truth! Long live the truth!
Where is the wind? Who has taken the wind? I can't breathe
This foul air. An air that reeks with the stench of death
Come back Mali come back Songhay! We need you. We need lovers_
Who can smile the sunlight into our own darkened futures. We
Need lovers who can kiss the strength into our own wasted
Bones. We need lovers who can calm the raging nights with the
Softness of their sighs. There is music playing somewhere I
Can hear it. There is music playing somewhere I can hear it
A moan. A cry. A scream. There is music playing somewhere I
Can hear it. The children patronize a flaming merry-go-round
Many are riding the white horse. They nod so divinely at a
Lost paradise. Their ghostly playmate has left their
Innocence in shambles. A whirlwind has stolen their humility
What smile is this upon their face? A smile that mourns the
Obscenity of their youth. No flowers for them to smell. No
Grass to sing the praises of nature. No blue skies for them
To bathe their hopes in
Truth smiles its glory to us. Can't you see
That it is time for us to move on. For there must be
Struggle. There must be striving. The chill in the wind is so
Terrifying. Why is it getting so cold in the valleys of our
Struggle. Do not think it will be easy. For it will not. For
We are talking about bringing humanism back into the world
There will be lies. There will be traps. there will be
Opposition from all sides. Do not think it will be easy, for
It will not. But there must be struggle and striving
Struggle and striving. Struggle and striving and Peace!