* Based on Esther Rolle's performance of a work by Danny Moses. It was released in 1975. Also includes pieces of her work, "One More Baby Child Born."
* I do NOT own the rights to her/his work. I am simply sharing it in this piece that I partially wrote.
* With respect to her label, "Savoy."
What if you and I could suddenly be free?
Would you allow Uncle Tom to shoot me?
Would you take the time and say
"I will never allow things to be that way."
Would you continue to record during a traffic stop?
Or would you sit there like a slick sly fox?
What if you and I could do some good?
What if we could help that young brother
Who wants to get out of the hood?
Would join the cause and fight the least of all?
Or would you allow that same brother to fall?
To fall under another man's foot,
To be stomped by that same man's boot,
Or would you take and stand
And do all you can
To help your fellow man.
Esther Rolle said,
"He may grow up to be
Your president.
Yea.......................
But then again,
He could wind up in the ghetto cement."
We have to work twice as hard.
We have to almost break our necks
To get half as far.
We have finally had a black president.
I can truthfully his tenure
Was indeed time well spent.
He had a lot of demons that tried their best
To take him out when they raised their
Ugly heads.
Esther Rolle also said,
"What if my mother
Could say she was free?
What if your sister
Was suddenly me?
What if the ghetto said,
"We will not burn."
What if the schools said,
"All children must learn."
What a happy thing.
What if the starving
Could have some food
What if your life
Was turned in some good?
What if?"
What if we took better care
Of God's green Earth?
What if all babies were
Considered "Free at Birth?"
What a happy thought
Of something for which
Our ancestors fought.
They fought night and day
To end racism and to
Just keep segregation away.
Esther again said,
"What if we listened
To what people said?
What if young soldiers
Were not sent home dead?
What if?
What if the sky
Was clear and blue?
What if somebody said,
"I Love You."
What if the laughter
Of children would
Ring in the hearts of men?
What if?"
YOU ARE READING
From Deep Within
شِعرA group of Original Poems that were written by your truly on a variety of subjects and topics. My inspiration for these poems came from artwork, music, nature, and many other sources.
