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
strapping 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 – 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
—kalamu ya salaam