lord knows
i aint acceptin
awards no more
all i did was survive heartache and deprivation
on this forbidden shore
i left a legacy
you children must complete
as i
as i lay me down to sleep
aint nobody got a patent of sufferin
every race done had they share
mine began when the african tapestry
the creator had woven
started to slowly tear
and yes
though i have travelled in dark places
few would dare
it is time for the lord to lift this load
because i am tired
yes i am
brother
watch yourself
lest your heart be weighed down
with dissipation
sister remember
it dont matter now that we were the first
upon this wretched earth
at the dawn of creation
at all times you gotta stay awake
and when the demons come
pray you have the strength to escape
i done lead you to the path
but now i am tired
so very tired
lord knows i am
i cant take another step
go on now
i wont slow you down
last night when yall was sleepin
i heard the howling of the blood hounds
if life
one must be sacrificed
for the many
in my dreams i see a land aplenty
but take your time
the river jordan is deep
go on now
i am at peace
leave me as i lay down to sleep
i have got mighty fine memories
married a fine lady
yes i did
she worked in the big house
cookin
cleanin
takin care of the missus kids
then one night
bout 3 years into our blessed union
hear me know
she came back to the slave quarter
with a hallow stare
she cried and cried
and wouldnt say why
9 months later she birthted a baby
who had massas hair
aint nothing more painful
than watchin the love of your life die
massas child survived
but my baby couldnt live
carrying a lie
but she whispered something to me
right before she passed
she said prepare the way for the children
to be free at last
behold my brother
all souls belong to the father
even the other ones
now i done showed you the path to freedom
but the struggle has just begun
always remember my sister
the way to freedom begins with
the holy spirit
the father and son
so let god lead your way
lead your way
stand firm with the creator
listen to me now
always side with the gospels
when facing enemies with hostile
intent
let not another day be spent
grieving over me
because malcolm is waiting for me
martin is waiting for me
and i know
lord i know that man can preach so sweet
so leave me be
as i
as i lay me down to sleep
for 400 years we done fought
an enemy who believe a truce
is mental abuse and a hangmans noose
got our civil rights
despite
his anger
rage and pain
but my momma told me long time ago
yes she did
to live is christ
to die is gain
i am happy
so very happy
i lived to see a black president
but yall remember
dont ever forget
one shining moment dont make
a lifetime unless you maintain
yo self respect
be strong now
and believe in yourselves
please do
i am sho nuff proud of you
yes lord
i see you done walked with us
through all of the years of woe
now i am seeing in the field of weeds
black roses starting to grow
now lord
you know i dont know my worth
because i aint never sought
the rewards of this here earth
all i ask is you prepare a place for me
in your bounty
where the water is pure
and the fruit from the black berries
is oh so sweet
as i
as i lay me down to sleep

All Poetry by D.Greaves/Darwin Greaves by D.Greaves-Darwin Greaves is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at dgreaves.posterous.com.
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