i. mood indigo
–Ntozake Shangeit hasnt always been this wayellington was not a streetrobeson no mere memorydu bois walked up my father’s stairshummed some tune over mesleeping in the company of menwho changed the worldit wasnt always like thiswhy ray barretto used to be a side-man& dizzy’s hair was not always greyi remember i was therei listened in the company of menpolitics as necessary as collardsmusic even in our dreamsour house was filled with all kinda folksour windows were not cement or steelour doors opened like our daddy’s armsheld us safe & lovedchildren growing in the company of menold southern men & young slick onessonny til was not a boythe clovers no rag-tag orphansour crooners/ we belonged to a whole worldnkrumah was no foreignervirgil aikens was not the only fighterit hasnt always been this wayellington was not a street
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