YOU
Romantics rapturize moonlight
but I like to see you
in the shine of day
morning dawn smiling encouragement
high noon working with our people
sun slanting at six, eating fruit
reading with our children
I like you driving to meetings
and walking picket lines
how proud I am marching
together with you down
mean city streets defying
state agents
Romantics week solitude
but I share your inspiration
and cherish most those moments
when you go heads up
against our adversaries
or turn seminars out
putting forth bold presentations
we do not have time to simply sit
mooning over each other
petting, fondling our bodies
like junkies clutching scag
yes, we watch the water sometimes
but we mostly make collective motion
with our brothers and sisters
and play music at home as
we write and plan our future
There is softness here
but it is concrete, not metaphysical,
not plagiarisms praising physical attributes
but “can I fix you something to eat”
said sincerely after we both have
been hard at it all day
“I’ll wash the dishes”
“I’ll mop the floor”
“I’ll go to the store”
all these words and actions
mean much more
than me laying back
my head heavy in your lap
reciting browning or
calling your brown eyes
stars in my midnight heaven
this means little if anything
while capitalists continue shooting
satellites into the sky,
call themselves the peaks
of civilization, and keep
killing us daily
Our uniting reinforces resistance
as we laugh, link up and lustily
prepare ourselves
to cleanse and clear
the earth and skies
with the fire and fervor
of our love and struggle
—kalamu ya salaam