D.Greaves http://dgreaves.posterous.com Well Veresed. Never Rehearsed. posterous.com Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:08:00 -0800 Stranger in a Foreign Land http://dgreaves.posterous.com/stranger-in-a-foreign-land http://dgreaves.posterous.com/stranger-in-a-foreign-land

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Never took a chance
That wasn't mine
Momma always said
A hard head
Make a soft behind
Was raised 2 always remember
Christmas day 2 many
Is just another day in December
I don't need reminders on a calendar date
Always felt
The love U save
Is the love U make
U see,
I've been molded 2 never forget
And always understand
I'll always be
A Stranger in a Foreign Land

If I commit a felony
I can be deprived
The Act of Patriots
Doesn't exclude me
From drug dealing and homicide
In this country I'm naturalized
Could be stripped
Of citizenship
Right before my eyes
So I learned as child 2 walk
In silence
Though I've been stalked
Never resorted 2 violence
But if my family bond is distorted
2 avenge my Bajan Bond
I'd gladly be deported
Always stood tall
Proud 2 be a man
But never forgetting
I'm a Stranger in a Foreign Land

U invite me 2 the table
I will accept
Always on time
Never overslept
I will only eat 2 be polite
Never want U 2 feel
I took 2 many bites
Folks say I take things 2 seriously
But I must 2 maintain my civility
Can't let U see my tears in any instance
Best way 2 protect myself
Is 2 keep my distance
No one knows what's in my heart
People read my prose
And think they've hit the mark
But when a thought is finished I move on
Never been a king
Refuse 2 be a pawn
Never been a part of the Native plan
Always been
A Stranger in a Foreign Land

I had a choice
Whether 2 be a Black brother
Or accept being labeled as an other
Many times an apodted child
Only desires 2 make his parent smile
Knew I could never dream of being President
Only 4 Natural Born
Not permanent residents
Since the age of three
My dreams have been shaped
By that reality
How could U know
That left a pain in Brother Dee
So I remain in my pocket
People throw
Blows
I attempt 2 block it
You never took the time
2 see the faded bruises on my hands
From reaching out
As a Stranger in a Foreign Land

2 each and all on the Set
With all due respect
An open heart
I will never reject
But please know mine I must protect
So when I come strong
I've got 2 come correct
2 U what seems like a petty slight
Can change my sunny day
Instantly 2 night
Exile is a possibility
That's real 2 me
I am who I am
Your Brother Dee
Never curse Allah
But GOD D--MN
All my life I've been
A Stranger in a Foreign Land

Dear Lady
I accepted love at your behest
We share a love beyond words
Or this Set
Yet
It's best
If I remain a guest
'Cuz any family joined by adverbs and conjunctions
Only requires a dangling participle
2 cause dysfunction
I believe in the words of Lady Liberty
Thank Allah for her providing
My mom the opportunity
But instinctively
Those from across the sea
Know where they are from
And where they be
So I have taken blows
No other man man would honestly withstand
Comes with the territory
Of being a Stranger in a Foreign Land


Taken blows
No other man would honestly withstand
I know who I am
D. Greaves
A STRANGER IN A FOREIGN LAND

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