and awaken the Lion

and awaken the Lion

for many years

through many tears

the Lion has dreamed of a better place

dreamed of a peace

that never was quite realized

when his eyes were forced open

his hopes

his prayers

were engaged

in a communion with a God

they had forced upon him

allowed him to hold to

and he too believed

that he too

could achieve

that Love supreme

where dreams of Eden

required no pleading

something within him

was enraged to some degree

he asked . . .

“why does your God allow

this misery and pain

to visit upon me?”

with no particular answer

we the Pride

gather our pride

and did the best we could

with Family

Community

Self

and that was alright for a while

all he wanted

was to live

love

educate his children

while he continued

to feed them

the Dream

the American Dream

just like you do

i can be President someday

“Tru Dat”

so we speak a bit different . . . sometimes

and the lines of my verse

demonstrates my voice

as does yours do for you

but i too

have something to say

that i feel must be heard

this day

yes dammit NOW !!!

you see,

this day,

this poem,

this “who i am”

is the result

of all things

i had to face

those things you , America

made me taste

and subsequently eat

but i could never digest the meal

the Hangings

the Ganbangings

the Drugs

the Political Deals

for real

did you think

that would keep me satisfied

and quiet ?

another Riot

looms in the horizon

and you are not surprised

you surmised it would come to this

so in my solace

amongst my family

i regurgitated that shit you fed me

about equality

justice

for is seems to me

it is “just us”

that do not enjoy

the parity

and economic literacy

but you . . .

you can read well i see

and to my disparity

you prod me every once in a while

to see if i am sleeping

and though in my soul

and my heart

i am weeping

for you

for me

praying

again to that God of ours

that one day we may see

that we truly are a family

of variegated beings

colors

thoughts

and shapes

and other perhaps beautiful

diversities

but know this

i am not stupid

and like cupid

i had hoped

that the arrows of our love

and tolerance

would penetrate your heart

and you would be affected as well

by the empathy

not sympathy

of my forgiveness

but i CAN NOT FORGET !!!

No I CAN NOT !!!!

and WILL NOT !!!!

what you did to me

America

and still continue to do

and like the Days of Rome

you send you sick indoctrinated

hate filled gladiators

into our arenas of existence

our peace

our communities

our families

our lives

to spill our blood

Physically

Mentally

and Spiritually

and you have

far too often

thinking we are soft and

asleep

perpetrated these crimes

but we are Lions

mightier than we even are aware of

and if this is the Jungle

we must endure

then endure we will

for we will reestablish our rule

over self

over life

over family

over community

over hate

disparity

inequality

we will give back to our self

our clarity

you subverted

or should i say

we allowed

when we were clouded

by our wants of things

you dangled like carrots

in our eyes

like we were horses

with blinders on

those damn days are gone !

and you shall soon come to know

why “The Caged Bird Sings”

because there is a better day awaiting me

you

and us all

and if you did not know it yet

love is the call

we must answer too

perhaps you need to wake up

so i ask you

or should i thank you

for that little poke

in my side

for i am cognizant

awakening

and there will be no place to hide

the angst and hate

you have shared with us

Amerikka

it is the fruit

of that which you have sown

in this garden we call life

you should have studied

and you would have known this

“ya reap what you sow”

a Universal Law . . .you know

and we are not fearin’ ya

we just squarin’ ya up

in our sights

for soon come

the High Noon Sun

and there won’t be no Gunfight at the OK Corral

my pal

the revolution is the solution

and it will not be televised

listen to dem dere prophetic words

i do hope you heard me

this time

cause you did not hear my Brother Gil

spill that truth

for the Lion is Awakened

and he now hunts the forsaken

any damn time or place he pleases.

or chooses

so don’t get it twisted

we only have love for the Lambs

for the meek shall inherit

your balls

if you don’t heed the call

and keep doin what you do

in the dark of your life

just be mindful

and careful

for retribution comes

to reestablish the balance

for Karmic Law marches forth

regardless of your desires

or intent

and though you never meant to

i plead to you

do not

awaken the Lion