Cumulonimbus by Frank X. Walker

[Tichaona]

What I come to know is
no man born a slave.
Serving another, for life
agreeing to be treated like cows
an pigs and less
be something a slave weigh every day
after he look at his other choices,
death an running.

Slaving, ain't no picnic.
We might look happy but
us grin mostly to keeps from crying.

Old York say
it take something African
to stand in the rain an smile
while it storming all 'round.
He say nobody choose to slave.
Them choose to hold on
to what little family them got.
Them choose to be sure
somebody still here to tell our side
to tell the whole truth
when it all said an done.

What some calls lightning an thunder
just be God trying to see what we choosing
an us grumbling
'bout being slaves.



Excerpted from Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York

Historical note: York was a historical figure, an enslaved black man who accompanied Lewis & Clark on their famous expedition. He has been written out of the history books to a significant degree even though his presence in the team was integral to its survival. Walker wrote this book from York's perspective.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_%28...

[Wilhelmina]

Nice, Tichaona!

[Tichaona]

Thanks for reading, Wilhelmina. I love the book!