Ne' Griot

by Charles A. Houston/A Homeless Poet

Passed by as though a crook

I took the time to look

His old black shiny face

Still bore the trace

The depth in his eyes/shown no disguise

Of his true station

Right world/wrong nation

Revered in his motherland

A leader in his clan

An elder, a “Groit” and so

Protected, respected

Above suspicions

A holder of oral traditions

In America, an old manumit,---ne’griot

Holder of false papers

Holder of a fallacy

Holder of empty Starbucks’ cup

7th St. and Market/ at quitting time

Brother can you spare a dime

© 2005