to young griots of today

to young griots of today

today’s true timed

poets—griots of the times

must write because

chosen to do so

not to compete

one with another

rather inking words together

scripting othello hued echoes

completing the truth of our-story

his-story chose to delete

remember the griots of old

timely praising ebony queens

banishing words echoing the obscene

you young yearning poets

be today’s story tellers

of our completion

rather than mimicking

their foolish competition

keep it forever real

your souls…

let no one ever steal