BEWARE THE HEART EATERS

 

she’s just a jive shakin’, head bobbin’, hair slingin’, hip thrustin’,

heavy breathin’, sexy whisperin’, lip pursin,

eye winkin’, baby talkin’, grasper of the balls and

chain on a ring by the nose leader of men

and once she gets you

in her clenches

she aint lettin’ go

‘cept for a price

 

she’s one of a million

they’re ever damn where

be all up in yo business in a little bit

most gots cute li’l names that end in “y”

sometimes an “e” or “ee”

better watch out for ‘em

‘cause ‘fore you be knowing it

one of ‘em … or maybe even a couple of them thangs

will have you by the scruffies

and they aint letting go

without exactin’ what they want

and that’s the problem

‘cause, aint yet nobody figured out what it is

that they want

 

some want all ya got

some just want a piece of ya

some wont stop til they get ya all broked down

truth is they all got these different things they want 

but ever damn one of ‘em … at a minimum …

want your heart

they done got ya when they get ya heart

so beware the Heart Eaters

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JOHNNY INSIGNIFICANT

 

“pray for war … pray for war

I can’t hear you … say it !!

pray for war … pray for war

louder !! … say it with me

pray for war … pray for war”

 

little sister asked again

to no one in particular

 

“when my brother will be home?”

big sister said again,

 

“I don’t know, Lil Bit … I just don’t know”

 

a teardrop fell …

slow motion

seemingly hours before it exploded on the floor

and was heard

as loud and as ground shaking

as any bomb the war pigs could make

mother couldn’t stand erect long enough to see anyone

enough sedation for the nation

daddy was out in the shop

wouldn’t let nobody in

been in there for hours

ever since the sheriff and the chaplain came by

Sheriff said to leave him be

 

girlfriend was in her dorm room

a hundred or so miles away

collapsed in her mother’s lap

who came to school

to deliver the news

before she heard it from somewhere else

 

 

he volunteered

and they trained him

then sent him to fight

there was a cause … some point … some issue

but he didn’t know it

didn’t know the reason for it

didn’t really matter to him

followed orders

that’s what he did

and did so honorably

and courageously

exemplifying bravery

with valor

and without question or hesitation

… for his country

 

 

and he went there … wherever

with The Death nipping at his heels

relentlessly

and when it was all over

when victory, defeat, diplomacy, or lack of interest

had been reached

he came home

to hugs and celebrations

he was a hero

to be revered by all

 

and a bleached blonde reporter

spoke to him  … live

from beside a truck with a satellite dish

way up in the happy sky

but the crowd did go home

and before long

he found himself alone

 

Johnny Anybody was sick

he had sweat the bed wet

he was damaged and deranged

doing things he could not explain

not himself anymore

 

so Johnny Nobody looked to the war pigs for help

and the suit clad swine squealed in incredulous tones

said there was nothing they could do for him

that their hands were tied

no monies appropriated

no medicines

no help

no biggie

it will subside

good luck

good bye

 

so he just dealt with it

for as long as he could

until he just could not

 

weren’t so easy for easy for him

to take the easy way out

several attempts were made

the last being a grand success

 

Johnny Nobody had done gone and did it

 he did

done gone and blowed his brains out

all over the bathroom

 

somebody had to bury good ol’ Johnny Anybody

who done gone over there

to where God pukes and shits

and pisses and spits …

and got himself all messed up

big sister took care of it all

mom just stared at the ground

dad wore sunglasses … wouldn’t take ‘em off

 

and the bleached blonde reporter … reported

from beside a truck with a satellite dish

way up high in the sad days sky

outside of the jammed packed church

she said good things about ol’ Johnny Insignificant

of course

and then she said, “back to you, Bob”

with an incongruent smile

Bob did his best to deliver the obligatory sad face while shaking his head

and speaking words of sincerity

he failed …

… commercial break

 

 

 

 

 

 

BLACK CHURCH

 

cold air stung his face

on his way to the black church

 

Boy walked a country mile

to get to where he thought he belonged

 

Boy heard the sangin’ and the carryin’ on

heard them laughing … heard them happy

such a beautiful sound

coming through the cracks of that ol’ Black Church

 

every Sunday mornin’ …then again that evenin’

found him walkin’ by

the Black Church

 

Boy could smell some cookin’

in the crisp country air

mixed with the scent of pine

some kind of hogm ... some kind of greens

sho’ smelled good to this unfed boy

up ‘round the Black Church

 

so he just kept on walkin’ by

again and again

so he could hear ‘em sangin’

and hollerin’

‘bout that fella …… Jesus

 

up and down the hill

in the middle of the gravel road

kickin’ rocks like he didn’t give a care

but he did

onliest reason he was there

was ‘cause of the Black Church

 

but he never did tell nobody

‘bout goin’ down there

to the Black Church

weren’t nobody to tell

Granny was old

and Mama was gone

“on business”

was what he was told

 

Boy lived all week for the mornins of Sundays

didn’t have to be woked up

didn’t have to be getting’ yelled at

to get up and go 

on his way

to the old Black Church

he just went …on his very own

​

didn’t matter none ‘bout no rain

didn’t matter none ‘bout no cold

didn’t matter at all ‘bout no sweatin’

long as he got to get to walk by

the Black Church

 

sometimes they sang the same songs

other times they’d try a new one or two

sooner than he knew, though,

he could sang every word with ‘em

and sang he did

​

on a summer Sunday mornin’

inside the Black Church

in the middle of a song

the Reverend James raised his hands

and lowered them … slowly

hushing them quiet

and bent a curious ear t’ward the outside

as they settled

​

they all heard it

they heard what they could not believe

they could hear someone sangin’

out there on the road

the voice of an angel

a voice like they’d never before heard

surely the voice of God in Heaven

 

the door slowly opened

and the Black Church emptied

they saw him

he was there

just ‘cross the yard

out in the road

walkin’ and kickin’ rocks

and sangin’

sho’ nuff sangin’

 

the dirty faced white boy

hadn’t yet seen ‘em

so he kept right on sangin’

 

The Black Church black folk were stunned

by what they heard

tears filled their eyes

 

they’d seen the boy before

some of the sisters worried ‘bout him

but they was told better not to meddle

so they just prayed for him

but now…

here he was

sangin’ their song

word for every blessed word

in a voice that was as sweet and pure

as the whisper of Jesus

 

boy finished the song

and as if he felt their presence

he turned to them

and saw them looking at him

and he became frightened

like he done did somethin’ wrong

 

so he started to run

Reverend James bellowed in a hearty voice

“stop there, boy … do not run!”

 

and he stopped

 

Reverend James spoke to him

 

“boy, please come inside… you are welcome here”

 

the boy was not sure he ought to go in there

up in the Black Church

he had not been told not to

but he didn’t know ‘bout them black folk

he’d been told by his grandfather

that white folks ought to stay away from black folks

it was just how it should be

 

so he said to Reverend James,

 

“but I’m white”

the Reverend James walked to the boy

slow as not to cause him fear

the Reverend reached slowly to the boy and took his hand and as he turned and led the boy to the Black Church … he said.

 

“yes, that you are … you are white … and we are black…

 

we are different … but we are the same … but inside of this church we are all of but a single color …

 

the boy interrupted,

 

“what color is that?”

 

“well son… it is a rare color indeed, an indescribable color … you cannot see it but you can feel it

 

… it is warm and it is comforting …this color that we are is the most magnificent color on earth … it is radiant and it is of peace

 

… the color we are is soothing of the soul … it pleases all who feel it … it is healing… it is bright when you need light … it is dim when you need rest

 

… this color is for everyone … it does not hurt you… it does not distress you … it does not judge you

 

… contrarily it wraps you in tranquility and gives you great ease

 

 …… son, we are the color of love”

 

 

and with that

the dirty faced white boy walked into the Black Church

and he was accepted

with wide open arms

he was loved

for he had not been before

he was fed

he was cleansed

he was happy in his heart

 

and on every Sunday thereafter

he walked that country mile

wearing a great big smile

and he sang among them

because he was one with them

and one of them

 

… in the Black Church

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