LOOKING (sitting on the dock
of the bay - for Otis)
the sea gulls are looking for fish
circling on the warm air currents rising over the lake
i am looking at them submitting to the laws
of their nature
what type of natural law do we black people
submit to
is it natural to be a negro
is it natural the way we dress and express ourselves
sometimes
the sea gulls are looking for fish
what are we looking for as we cruise thru the
twentieth century down the boulevards of slow extinction
what glimmering brightness are our eyes attracted towards
i am looking at them turning and twisting
what ever way they feel is best, flying just
like they want to
when we turn and twist is it like we want to
are we flying the way we want to
the sea gulls are looking for fish
they are not fooled by empty cigarette packs
floating in the dirty waters
what are we looking for, what kinds of brightness will
we dive into the lakes after
and call them fish
i am looking at them scanning the waters
and diving down head first
fishing
when we move, is it head first
do we look and examine the waters we dive into
the sea gulls are looking for fish
actively searching over the white cresting lake for food
i am looking at them and am searching too
i seek the black world and know that
i must scan quickly, choose well and dive
head first
or else
it will elude me like the wet slippery
undersides of fish;
—kalamu ya salaam