photo by Alex Lear
Sharing is hereditary
my four foot-eleven mother was world wise yet unburdened
by the cloying cynicism sophistication so often suggests
she projected a generous spirit adeptly balancing gifting
and keeping her nose out of other people's greed, and
equally, my burly country bred father taught us
the eternal lesson: regardless of how you looked
or what others thought, there was no wrong in doing right
the curatorial joy of their prescient caring shaped three
strapling sons who continue to strive to match inola's
exalted social statue and to embody big val's prophetic
folk wisdom, our parents offered the treasury of themselves
and thereby ushered our entrance into the sanctuary
of responsive and responsible manhood wherein we fulfill
ourselves by emptying our hearts into the life cups of others
—kalamu ya salaam
_________________
Kalamu ya Salaam – vocals
Stephan Richter – clarinet
Wolfi Schlick – reeds
Frank Bruckner – guitar
Mathis Mayer - cello
Georg Janker - bass
Michael Heilrath - bass
Roland HH Biswurm - drums
Recorded: June 14, 1998 – "ETA Theatre" Munich, Germany