Bad Breath

CATEGORY

life

When you spoke
I envisioned a long ago audience in such a horrid rage
John Coltrane and Miles Davis 
blowing passionately on stage
yet, their notes were consistently off key 
at the Blue Note cafe
and watching your interview on TV
yeah
I felt that kind of way
uneasy and perplexed
When you spoke

What you said
Awakened the distant memories of 
decaying lynched bodies
Softly falling to the ground 
as they dropped from southern trees
Their freed spirits rose from the ashes 
and laughed in the wind
Then suddenly cried after horrid double takes 
praying that you would immediately rescind
every syllable and word of
What you said

When I saw your face
grinning like a porter 
shining shoes on an old Chicago train
tap dancing in rhythm to 
"Hambone" 
in the sun and in the rain
large white teeth blinding my television set 
like the familiar Cheshire Cat
I approached Alice in Wonderland
and she agreed with where I'm at
lowering my head in sorrow
When I saw your face

The sound of your voice
Echoed the remembrance of the days of Jim Crow 
and separate but equal
nodding your head
seemingly approving the resurgence of a modern day sequel
In the time you took 
to complete your unsettling three minute interview
Dismissing every bit of our history
our journey and all that we have been through
Listening in utter amazement at
The sound of your voice 

I closed my eyes
When you were provided every proof and point of racism 
then and now you resisted
you even went as far
widely smiling
and said it never once existed
I called my wife over to watch this 
amazing interview 
and she agreed with me
this was a national
disgusting
hurtful display of 
Uncle Tom "clownisity"  
damage done in three minutes
I closed my eyes

bad breath
The longest three minutes on TV 
that I can ever remember or recall
Scrambling around the pantry 
for a can of industrial strength Lysol
But I am sure the stench will dissipate 
once you look up your family tree
Close your mouth 
and listen to their voices mapping just how you came to be
and you will discover
never a day in their lives did they ever have
bad breath