| THE HANDSTAND | 2ndWINTER2011 November-December |
Ode to a young G
Brother 2 brother young G I ain't trying to mock you
but this black on black banging got us all on the clock too
babies not quite nine all doing time on the block too
no safe place to play mama's mind, body and soul hooked on crack too
fathers doing time for that time he didn't take the time to watch his back too
now here you go 14, strapped, murder on your mind but that other young G got a gluck too
both of you ignorant of the fact the system got eyes in the sky on both of you
but somebody who look like you lied to you
told you how to do the what to do
now one young G dead, you sent that bullet to the head
that bed you made you gotta lye in it
you've been lied to all your life young G now you've come to rely on it
now you on the run, they got your prints on the gun
and just like that the system's got you
but who got you when they got you and who you thought got you
ain't there to get you?
Now this ain't the time young G when I'ma tell you get on your knees and pray
nor am I gonna tell you hang tough thru tough times and come what may
cause right now we just talking and ain't nothing yet got to popping
mama told me a long time ago friends can take you but they won't bring you
answer that droid young brother I'm trying to ring you
bring you some science to help you avoid that thing they got waiting for you
it's not too late to see who's really been hating on you
but it's not you they hate they fear if you wake you'll know at the core you're great
and forever change how you relate
to their prison industrial complex system
right now in your state of not-knowing you're food to them
I know you think you got one up on them
but like oil you ain't nothing but crude to them
they don't care how hard you come to them
to them you ain't old-school, new-school, you are no-school to them
you can gang up bang up without knowledge of self
you come like fools to them
a brother that would kill his own ain't nothing but a tool to them
to use you and abuse you
when you look for justice like Troy Davis they refuse you
don't let this behavior of theirs confuse you
I know you're young but old enough to see we ain't trying to lose you
so pull your pants up and so pull your mind up
check the box that says 'life I choose you'
cause young brother believe it or not we love you.
© all rights Rudwaan 10.20.11
--
Kilimanjaro! (Inspired
Sept. 21, 2011, date of execution for Troy Davis in
Kilimanjaro is a
call to all Africans to focus on our climb to the top, (to
Kilimanjaro) where we rule, where we control the
economics of our communities and nations and where we
will have pride and self-respect.
Kilimanjaro is a
call to all Africans to never again be confused about
where we are going; we're going to the top, to Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro is a
call to all Africans to respect the right of all people
to climb their mountain and to have self-determination
for their group.
Kilimanjaro is a
call to all Africans to defend with our lives; to defend
with our total being our right to climb our own mountain
and to be self-determined; to be sovereign.
Kilimanjaro is a
call to all Africans to climb Kilimanjaro
from wherever we are in the world; knowing that our climb
to the top elevates us all.
Kilimanjaro is a
call for us to see, in our minds eye, our ascension to
the top, (to Kilimanjaro) where we serve
no master but ourselves and the Most High.