Daughter of the Ghetto

Brooklyn is like
layers of thick molasses
sticking to you
never thin
church bells ringing from the wind
where spirits spin

two story walk up
Mustafa hat shop and Islamic wear
Masjid At Taqwa
cross street

The Adhan
time, pray
beside papa
mama abaft

rug rolled out
hands rise
head down
head up
bow, bend knees

recite, recite
chant, chant
dance, dance
gather spirits

seven abound
seven all around
consecrated drums
papa's stories of Damballah

kicking kuku
jumping to chunks of cadence
prospect park
Conga square in the dark

"doobie, go low, low."
touch the earth
down, low, low
give it up to the God's
young feet sweep
accent space

Cora's babies
Great Queen Sengalese
yield a generation in America
promised papa a trip to Mecca

mama nursed stories to be told
while papa stretched goat skins to be sold
left drying in stuyvesant sun
congas waiting to be blessed

a garden for me
turning hoeing hard soil
picking burnt smoke pipes
bullets butts, tossed pennies
flourish fruits behind the slave

our house rocked
man! it was all love
mama the hipshaker
head jerking
snapping neck
to "The Big Pay Back"

there she goes
lordy have mercy
leg kick to the air
break down
to the ground
split

couldn't wait to snap crackle
finger pop
old, new, hip hop
doing the wop

lolloping, skipping in and out of turning loops
first pair bamboo hoops
jingling golden shine
jamaican dancing
Mr. Blake's backyard
Jamaica South Side
back to the crisp street of Bed Stuy

born to burn
born to pray
born to be
ceremonies born

Brook land Ghetto child...

© 2010 Lepadah




I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
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Submitted by kailashana on 31 August 2010 - 3:30pm.

Nominated, ghetto child, I
Nominated, ghetto child, I can hear the rhythm of the streets.

~A

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” ~ Jayne Goodall

reply
Submitted by poeticjustice on 31 August 2010 - 7:03pm.

Pardon my language but this
5
Pardon my language but this was fucking awesome…..I’m waiting for more….Blessed Be, Patrick

reply
Submitted by pleiades on 31 August 2010 - 7:20pm.

poeticjustice took the
poeticjustice took the words
right out of my mouth

one of the best pieces of writing
i’ve read in a long time

nominated

cheers
p

reply
Submitted by race_9togo on 1 September 2010 - 12:18am.

Hey
new
5
Rich, sensual, intricate, intimate and beautiful.
Nominated.
I think I will explore Brooklyn, on my next vacation.

Respectfully

Jim

“Laws and rules don’t kill freedom: narrow-minded intolerance does” : Race




From: SparkyDashforth (SparkyDashforth)
Last Visit: 10:21 AM

To: lepadahxxx
Posted: Sep 01 10 11:34 AM
Message:
55280.2 (2 of 3)
Reply to 55280.1


A brilliant masterpiece Lepadah.

Awesome writing.

I have one suggestion -

I would end the poem on the line

"born to be"



Bravo!



sparkus



5
Ive been to New York, a long time ago we drove through Brooklyn … and you make me want to go back and stop and feel the life that just seems to vibrate through your poem

as above have said … and I agree its the best piece of writing ive read in an age …

Applause

love JayCee

(“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” Og Mandino quotes)





GODISTHE1
Female, 49, Oklahoma City, OK
Posted 2 hours ago

This is NICE!!



dondagriot
Male, 49, Detroit, MI
Posted 14 hours ago
this one has my toes snappin. love the way weave culture so gracefully into this. so great your pen. much respect my quee