GORDON DAVIS, A FRIEND
TO BELIEVE IN YOUR BELIEFS
Gordon Davis was a good friend to me.
Before I became a man
He was my eyes.
my beliefs were those of a child.
He was like a father to me.
I believed in Santa
I didn’t see it coming.
but I never wrote him a letter.
Outside of my family,
I knew there was no Tooth Fairy
he was the closest person to me to leave.
but I still left my tooth under the pillow.
I didn’t want to accept the fact that he’s gone.
I believed my parents when they said I was special,
Why did you leave me?
but I got spanked anyway.
Unhand me, release me, set me free.
I guess I’ll accept the fact that he’s gone.
I believed I was a good boy,
Unwrap those chains that bind me.
He’s gone and I’ll accept the fact that he’s
but I also believed that I was bad
Untie my hands.
in a better place than me.
because I liked boys.
Loosen that rope around my neck.
As I became a man
My legs, my legs—they need to be free.
my beliefs were challenged.
Let me step out into the world.
I believed that all men were created equal.
Let me breathe fresh air into my lungs.
But equal to what?
Damn it!
New York is a beautiful city.
I believed I could go anywhere,
Open up my prison cell,
It is where cars are flying,
but I wasn’t the right color.
the cell that has been my whole world.
people are dying.
I believed I was intelligent,
Give me the keys to a life.
Robbing, stealing, drug dealing.
but I was not always smart.
A life without bars—
Sex, crack, a landmark for corruption.
I believed in my trust of people,
Like race.
Law enforcement killing kids
but many have disappointed me.
Like sexual orientation.
with no weapons and beating it in.
I believe I could say a lot more,
Like poverty.
It is not justice.
but not in an hour.
Like homelessness.
Be cool. You don’t have to suffer no more.
Bobby Weekfall
BIG APPLE KNOWLEDGE
Like AIDS.
It works because they have unity after they divided ours.
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Shurland H. Aird
Like abuse in all its ugly forms.
Even the kids suffer because they have to pass
Like myself.
a third grade test in order to go to fourth grade.
Fire me from my job as a self-doubter.
I guess their way of thinking is,
Unhand me.
“We need the room. Get out!”
Release me.
Every culture is here.
Set me free,
But if you can’t pay, leave.
Damn it.
Bobby Weekfall
Situations
UNHAND ME
Shurland H. Aird
Situations
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