Fairy Stars
My uncle Dan
was a Harlem Man
danced extra light on his feet
smiles like radiant sun
talked up close to ya
comfortable with himself
and you could always
smell his cologne.
The ladies loved him;
loved that laugh of his
he always had flattery for them
often given.
Uptown.
down town
he never came to the house
what without a gift;
loved us 'chilings'
soft candy
and wild stories
which always had a point.
'Time was' he'd say'
'that there was a meadow
over that way
till they paved it over'
'Your grandmother-
why she came from 500 acres
in the deep south-
til they taxed her family out.
Had to leave the land;
she still bitter
and put out.
We all
here
in this family
immigrants
and runaways
most free,
some slaves.
'Now'
he'd say
'don't trade
plantation slave
for city slave
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poem by Lonnie Hicks
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