Ward Hill

And I am tired of insisting
and pretending that a higher ground
even exists,
when we already broke the cages,
ran for the door;
they didn't even look
our way.
City to city -
it's just communication
for it's own sake,
we'd rather save it
for the big things,
but of course, first
things first - who the hell
are we, anyway?
Capricorns and Sagittariuses
and Jah and mistaken identity
and your father's political machinations
oh the gears they are a-turning
and justice
moving along city to
ceremony hootin' and hollerin'
increasing the frequency and incensed
ired even, white paint and
industrial ash, locomotion,
(come on come on)
it's just migration,
like your grandfathers, plainsmen
the lot, we just want for
everyone.

Recovery

Not to be contained,
bouncing off RFE signals
and uncaged,
some comic book emotion.
There is a moral here,
accounting for censorship and
genteel morality
but it sure didn't take now
did it? He hasn't moved
in days somebody call a
doctor or a priest
or whatever passes
these days
and I'll.
You know we're trying
to start a life
without all the whispers
and fury and backdrop
and cement, some nonsense
about color you know it's
all her side and art
I for one have
sacrificed
my memories just to get this far
down the road
because that is the point of the road
said the sign.
Oh dear friend
we can see it in your eyes
beyond
and yes they hoped to spared you
the pains of being grateful and
self-hating but it's a careful
balance that I've gone and upset,
we'll have to operate.
Lights out.
You'll find he has no problems
accepting charity from strangers,
but only.
Creator and destroyer of a thousand
worlds in his own mind, a fiction in which
he matters, and speaking even
and the flowers;
we'll all be moved.
How've you been? Barely making out
the words beyond their meaning, if even
and why begin the journey
with the uncertainty
and hallowed sanctity of
surrender, and the pious
even, in chorus,
at the gates,
the words,
very well thank you,
not even a question,
having barely moved for days,
not even the gears of the mind,
and I thank you, Are you seeing this?
There's new levels all around us
and landings and spirals and all the celestial
architecture, again, very well thank you
although you moved too fast, blinding to those
with sight, purposes, you see
we weren't,
and deaf to the roar of the gears and motors and the
opening of the gates,
now how can he even know that, deaf as he is?
cured certainly, thank you,
paid in advance,
but having made the trip not daring to partake,
not one for rituals, you see,
and he appreciates the invitation,
but, no, thank you,
once around the walls and I'll be on my way,
and now I've seen everything,
take this down.

A funeral toast:
lest we forget
and forego
the lives we couldn't destroy,
try as we may,
in the making of sense,
in your case,
the fables,
the stories of our children
and respective copyrights
and holders,
this is our moment
I am tomorrow.
Rook takes pawn.
The objective objective behind us,
getting across,
the shortest distance between
two points is magical thinking
and that's how we'll keep score,
at least you are
today.
So for those who have aided our
most joyous of all descents
and their assorted spouses and caretakers,
a row of stars.
And of the queen?
Heaven knows, Jerry,
and is beaming.
Use your imagination.
And o the endless fields,
well,
we'll find a way
as is gravity
bound in eternal servitude
or vice-versa,
and excuse me,
they're gathering outside the walls.