W hen I Die
by Lots Marta Lewis
Pie*»« plsy for me
"Stood on the Banks o f Jordan"
to ease and rest my weary
tired soul in sweet repose
rest/from the ever guarded
light hou«e o f living
I stood on the storms o f life
watching the ships go sailing by
stood there/watchcd them take my brother
that "significant other” from the
naked tips o f despair
enslaved by caves and ignorance
to the top o f high mountains,
plush plains
fine home, jobs— destitute minds
watched/as they took his sister
from unclad feet to fine hone clods
out of raggs to riches
diamonds, furs and jewels
stood there/bare fo o t/o n (he corner
shivering in the cold,
stomach shrouded in empty/ness and pain
stood there looking on the bank o f jordan
as that mighty hand swooped—
swooped down/snatching up
the tiny spark that was life
before it faced the hungered storm o f strife
watched and stood; stood, watched .
money rolls like water, flow like blood
from the hand o f the other
heard you and yours are not
meant to share the apathy
that claims the captain's
and mistress’s o f an ill/fa te d ship
we all stand on the banks
watching, wailing, looking
for the astringent
but none, not one
was ab le/or willing at least
to apply the styptic
he who would
is perhaps/not yet born
this tired, bleeding, weary soul
stands now in sweet repose
watching the ship come
sailing over
it's carrying me
THE H I8 T 0 R Y OF BLACK PEOPLE
Black people were created to be beautiful,
In my life, I haven't seen on pitiful.
Some say Blacks were born to be a slave.
That's betasue the W hite man taught him how to behave.
MONIQUE'S
it’s carrying me­
lt snatched up that significant brother;
his sister too. it hurries along—
so here we ride, viewing the
lackered stairs o f disdain souls
wondering why the ship, this ship,
carries one and all
without concern, without regard
for well clad, skinny or fat
they did n 't have tim e /to grab even a hat,
nor coat, nor shoes, nor money
all the ships' mates/travel across
the cold desolated planes o f time
thru wet/watery streams by design
Expert hairstyling for men and women
4711 N. Interstate - 281 M 04
Io n » black N o rth of Qolrtgt
those who watched
Africa-starvation
Kennedy-millions
ghetto child-rat bit
nigger-lynched
I say Blacks were born to be free.
Just like any other man, including you and me.
Some W hite people took us from Africa our only home,
Brought us to America and made us slaves o f their own.
Yes, Blacks turned out to be slaves all right
But now we aren't because we have begun to unite.
Some W hite people say we ain 't no good,
But when there was a cause to fight there we stood.
We have been stomped and called names
No matter where we have come from .
Bat facism and prejudice in America
This we as a whole shall overcome.
King-assass.nated
Death-middle passage
pregnant negro-beaten
Emmett Till-whistle
Viola Liuzzo-slain
Fred Hampton-slaughtered
Malcom-stopped
intellectual-imprisoned
yes. these too watched then—
&CAR
TELEPHONES
as you! now stand! on the banks
watchm g/m y ship roll by.
THE BEEPER PEOPLE.
713 S.W. 15th Street
Cell 224-BEEP for a free demonstration.
♦
T
So I guess this is the end, no matter where I ’ve been,
'Cause we all have been struggling in a world o f sin.
This poem was written by Eddie Irby II (Age IS years/.
Grace Collins Memorial
Center
128 N.E. Russell
281-6930
All open outside door is an
invitation to waste. It creates
a draft which cools down a
room in a hurry.
And the effect on your
electric bill could be a
real blow.
h
\
Change a habit.
Conserve your
current and
your currency.
Richard Allen
i eleven years after tha Ba of Rights and the I
of Indapandanca were signed, Richard Allan and other free
Blocks in Philadelphia realised that tha terms ‘
and TneMenebie rights" did not apply. Wftsan I
from their knees while praying In a white Methodiet church in
November of 17S7, they walked out and tesaand tha African
H.C. Plummer & Co., Inc.
Professional Real Estate Services
Li*»««*,.
nennen
. Ofi
» lUfTwnw
CHfton F. Richardaon
Walter L. Sayles
Abdul M . Hasan
I N.E. Union Ave. • 2B4-11
Page 12 Section III Portland Obeerver February 23,1983