America written on your lady of liberty statue in new York harbor
You ask the tired poor weary those yearning to breath free
And we are here hiding in the silent shadow of that statue
Wating in articulate rage for our change to come
We cry out to you from the thousands in job lines
From the welfare lines and cheap bargain stores
While eating the corner store's high priced make-believe steaks
And bullet proof beans that make up our daily bread
The American dream for us is quickly becoming a home grown nightmare
Even while we're awake and slowly the great horn of plenty is running dry
For we are overworked,overlooked,underpaid,victimized
And forgotten in this land of the free and home of the brave
The money eagle still flies, but too high for the poor to catch
Blacks Whites Yellows Browns all sing the blues of hard times
Some off key and some on key Congressmen and city council legislate themselves higher salaries and less days to work along with longer vacations and more fun times
Democrats are doing it to their secretaries,while the Republicans are doing it to the Nation
Taxes are high and utilities too
The cost of living is going up while the chance at living is going down
Food stamps are cut in half as hunger cuts human throats
As our world turns people in other lands are watching us too
The want for a better life clings like a bad season
Povery's sorrow slides past the cheap wine inspired laughter
The stolen *** moments that blot out everything but the intense need
Can I get a witness?

Love has left the building
It was't reasonable nor wise,don't you know that we are all GOD's
Children here in His eyes .See me on Philadelphia streets
And you look past or turn away, it would be nice to live in a city
Where people smiled or hugged along the way
But this is not the real world closed minded folks would say
Hate's darkness is approaching and it took time to contruct
What ever happened to in GOD we trust
I have a strong unshakable feeling that love has left the building
And it's taken along with it affection ,faith and trust

I see the sad tears fall upon the street
Of those whose bellies growl from not enough to eat
See them sleeping in door ways or hugging cold pavements of stone
Night fills their ears with the rushing of sirens to help others
But is there one reaching out to end their plight
Prayers go up to GOD that what few things that they have
Won't be stolen and their bodies will soon be made whole
In this land where promises made by Washington's elected never unfold

On Sunday mornings she would clap her hands
And call on Jesus in HOLY JOY in church
But selfishness fueled her spirit.This nubile looking princess
Who denied lust,yet allowed the daughter of her youth to ride waves of
Fleshly passion in the bedroom next door and moan out loud
Soon the call to JESUS within her grew faint and she rose up from
Prayerful knees and went back into the World again
Casting aside the Savior who had brought her through
Times good and bad for white and reggae music
And eat the stale apple pie of indifference
With a side order of the meat and potatoes of sin

He held the rich brown earth in the palm of a large hand
Fromwhich his crops grew and tasted the smoked ham country meat ,
Ate freely of the cornbread ,peach cobbler,sweet potato pie,turnip greens,
While laughing a laugh rich music. I thought him a glass that would
Never break or fall,a flower with no need of rain or soil. A daily tower of gentle strength. He embraced allof life's joys and pains like a man.
He went forth with gifts and sought to anoint the world with the same love
That anointed his family.Grandpa penny tried to make me look
beyond my foolish youth,so that I might understand the ways of wisdom.Now looking back over the long passing years
I realize that he opened my blinded eyes , offering me a chance
To see life face to face.And I closed my eyes and let time move this
Solitary man to another emotional place and cried,
Because I didn't want to deal with expectation and far away hope. But now the  way is brighter ,for  Grandpa Penny taught me that truth
Never lies and no lie lasts forever

That first time I beheld your face
I felt that the entire world stood still and the moon and stars
Fell down from the sky as my hand touched yours
That first time.That first time I felt my lips softly touch yours
It seems I welcomed a new romance and the world was mine to have and hold
,it was the gift you gave to last inside for all time
Now that day is long past and memories still float inside my mind
I'll have a warmth everlasting to keep me going on
In the the coldest winter of night until its my time to die
My eyes have captured all those tender moments we shared
Just like that first time

Listen son stop trying to tell me I don't belong here
Because I was black in the state of Virginia which makes me American
With these large brown eyes you see staring At your phony pretending  concern, you use kung fu words  with the speed of Bruce Lee  all the while trying to edge closer to my personal life which will remain closed
You think that claiming to love and follow Denzil Washington and Oprah
Will make me feel loved and distracted
What do you know about the highs and lows of being Black?
I'm about to back you up and put you in your place
And stay out of the place you keep trying to put me
Cause who I am is ...me