Keep On Doing It

Please don’t be tellin me
What to do
Don’t tell me not to
cuz…I feels you-smile
Feeling we is nothing
maybe is white
or maybe we is black
or red
maybe yella
Might be a woman
May be a fellow?

But a man wouldn't
day dream
Thinkin what is written is fantasy
He would give dap
Wouldn't be quite as steadfast
Running hot from
scattered ink, well peiced
but he would
stop and think
and keep it together
Cause he swing like Duke Ellington
but you swing better

You would be his hero
but in a different row
Yes he would wink
and he would know
Giving that under table smile
In an exclusive club
We are in essence
We be like a child
Before treats in a sugar store
We are weaker for honey
Becoming wild

In the midst of words
with unmistakeable style
We would be remiss
not to mention in bliss
It would be ashamed
even at the game
not to become inundated
by subliminal siren song
Rocking to it all night long
So we ain't wrong
If we listen
Listen to you sing
Listen to words
Listen to you bring it
and listen to the dreams

Hanging like tiny fish in schools
Rushing to ever changing moods
Notions when you stroke
Cajole yo pen
Even if we are nothing
We knows this
Yet we can't pretend
that your words are less
We guess
a scribe so hard to resist
Uhm, did you feel this?


Mandika's Plate 2008