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There was a time in West African history
when rich ancient Kingdoms traded
pound for pound—kilo for kilo—precious
gold for the benefits of much-needed salt.
There is now—in this time—in America, suffering
poor people hitch-hiking rides to clinics
to sell precious blood plasma—liter for liter—
to get income to purchase needed healthy water.
There was a time a wealthy West African King
on a pilgrimage, gave away so much gold to the poor,
he wrecked the oppressive economy of several regimes.
There came a time in America when our King
was assassinated for uttering the truth of violence:
poverty, unemployment, lost education and hope;
these as well as bullets from the barrels of guns.
In America, we now live in the sad times of
“…an economic system [that] takes necessities
from the [poor] to give luxuries to the [wealthy]…”
Where the guilty and rich reap forgiving benefits
while the innocent and poor reap injustice;
and where once again, we are in the times where
being alive and living, remain a life of challenge.
Now is the time and the time is now, for us to cease
being like the offspring of Sisyphus’s children and employ
our ancestral strengths in climbing the mountain; where we
can ascend the top and clearly visualize the Promise Land.
