Cannonball Adderley/Teri Elam
on contemplating the definition of shift
after the work song
dem bones, dem bones gonna rise again –james weldon johnson
shift [shift]:
1: to transfer from one place to another; to exchange something for another
2: a group scheduled to work during a time
3: to put aside, replace something with another
4 a change in direction; a transformation in attitude, judgment, or emphasis
1.
us bones be stolen yank-shifted
afore yemọja’s eucalyptus-salve psalm-hymns
dreads away be heap-piled chattel
neck-shackled stacked and stacked and stacked
be fire-branded-ash bid-sold cheap—
us bones be forsaken
2.
us bones be weal-tree-branched
back-break-shifting sunrise to sundown
picking tobacco slicing cane be whipped-
lash-pained— chained-down lo(o)sing free
be bleeding sickled ice-cold—
us bones be gasping sun
3.
us bones be bowed-down-kneeling
praise-worship hushed praise-worshipping
orishas past dusk be body-drumming rhythm
foot bones shift-shuffling hand bones clap-shouting
be hum-calling god sing-calling goddess—
us bones be unshaken
4.
us bones be shift-telling newfangled truth
griot-riffing to be (free) wind-dancing ether
across quilt-mapped passageways be faith-migrating
by twilight whispering secret tongue(s)
be (un)bent and mighty yes! mighty resolute—
us bones be rising up.
fallen
after autumn leaves
deer hunting is sport hunting, dating thousands of years. there are numerous
types of deer hunted throughout the world. --wikipedia
headline in the augusta, georgia metro county courier – june 4, 2015:
“photo shows cops posing with rifle over black man in antlers”
autumn leaves fall
autumn leaves fall
autumn leaves fall
like deer-hunted black bodies fall
black-bodied-women fall
black-bodied-men fall
black-bodied-boys fall
black-bodied-girls fall/dragged/sat on/bagged
emmitt till fall rodney king fall
kathryn johnston fall rekia boyd fall
yvette smith fall oscar grant fall
no matter? we run
we run to escape the hunter’s aim
we run no matter?
we cannot escape the hunter’s aim
tamir rice fall aiyana jones fall
trayvon martin fall michael brown fall
freddie gray fall sandra bland fall
deer-hunted black bodies fall
black-bodied-women fall
black-bodied-men fall
black-bodied-boys fall
black-bodied-girls fall/dragged/sat on/bagged
like autumn leaves fall
autumn leaves fall
autumn leaves— fallen.
learning how to pray
after mercy, mercy, mercy
do you hear me--do you feel me--we gonna be alright –kendrick lamar
breath(e) adoration
dear lord,
prostrate praise
exalt elevate
(i) believe relief;
breath(e) confession
o lord,
ire fury
tired wavering
forgive (me);
breath(e) thanksgiving
my lord,
blessings grace
glory joy
gramercy jubilee;
breath(e) supplication
yes lord,
have mercy
hamercy
lawd hamercy (on me);
breath(e)
hamercy lawd!
have mercy
mercy
mercy
mercy (me)
amen.