.............................................
even the bartender’s dancing
i am also dancing my ass off
pronouncing GOBAMA!
uncaringly joyously, nerdily to everyone who passes my way
what’s happening here?
is it christmas’ true meaning coming early this year?
tomorrow today morning is barack-obama day-off!
a moment
from the plaguing questions
will he, won’t he?
to answer
this one precious night,
tomorrow’s one precarious sun and moon,
our troubles can be put aside
tonight the planet (at least) dances with us
how can I possibly overstate the nature of this day’s celebration?
this one which had to happen first, to dump the fear that it may never really happen
today's the day
who eye? i
call me anything you want to
negro, colored, black, sensitive
go on with your slurs – if you think even they’ll do anyone anything
the power our unity has rendered
today these words will never hurt us
we are drunk with the height of standing one inch taller*
high, our rainbowed spectrum spinning glittering joy
from all of the autumned hued peoples
we are, one night—
and for a change in the atmosphere—
in a healthier state of mind
this night morbid fiscal worries will wait...
what bombings wars ethnic cleansings
what scary terrorists stories?
what pain of injustice?
unemployment, urban sprawl,
what first what second class citizenship
which people criminalized
modern day slavery? what segregations?
what empty promises?
what, where’s my mule and can I perhaps maybe just get even the smallest acre?
though – surely – the circle has not been rounded
another, a significant layer of healing from that heinous institution
which anglo friends
with various and logically evidenced ideas of rigging, conspiracy
refusing to see that sometimes even
the powers that be
can’t dam this tidal joy
we muslim hindu buddist arab south asian hidden others
(especially muslim)
today forgive our new leader’s campaign’s little black lie
we get the joke
hopeful the hawk-stands are made of the same righteous cunning
today little black children AND little white children
tiny tell me who they are voting for – barack obama
today my gorgeous brilliant sisters and i
in silks and sexi-fitting jeans, highest heels
and love lives we can’t quite get right
look upon that wide smile
and, reminded of our lovers, brothers
let go the burden of regret bitterness disappointment
for a minimum of 56% of american females and 51% of her males**
even true love becomes possible this promising day
mothers fathers and grandest parents
express their hope through worry
uttering sheltering prayers of protection for their newly heroed son
giant on screen today michelle malia sasha
their triple-handed miracle
instantly evolves the whole world’s standards of beautiful, pretty, american, normal
today the lonely black girl fashion plate
is joined by sisters and sisters again – tokenized exoticized no more
today the royal fleet has been conquered
the dark chocolate covered golden ticket unwrapped
today let’s all disrobe our emperor’s clothes
unpunch a time clock
hug a many-flavored tree
today we are reminded again that nothing ever happens except
in its own time
in its own place
and when the purpose has perfectly ripened
tonight we let go our fears of thievery
tonight we are the champions (thank you freddy mercury)
tonight we are that which we have been seeking
the space
the deep and clear breath
……….
tonight on canal street by the chicago river
a man with an apparently cardboard reality
with needs far greater than what he is pleading
than what i have to give
dropped me
hypocritical and guiltily, to the usual wary state of mental existence
for a little while down
but still hopeful
and taking this one day off from
my own imprisoned cynicism
…………………………………………………………………………………………
*http://www.observer.com/2008/media/richard-belzer-every-black-kid-will-go-school-inch-taller-if-obama-pulls-it
** http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7709852.stm
