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I would have met you sooner
Shaken your hand
Invited you to hang with me among my innermost circles
We could have had intimate midnight conversations
About my friends, enemies and relations
And you could have told me what to do and where to go
What to say and what to know
Not so much on a gossip trip
To dwell and give ammunition to the haters in my crowd
Them peoples were quite loud with them hating ways
Them peoples always talked loud
But like James said
They wasn't sayin' nuthin
I would chill in the back row
Watching the people who knew who you were
Or so they said
Now they are alive when
Once they were dead
On Sundays dressed the same way and
Talked the same talk
Monday
Caught them on the Ave with a different walk
But some were consistent with their conditions
Stable in their transitions
And traditions which always confused the hell out of me
Questions I was ready to ask
Genuinely
But genuinely afraid to take that trip
A dark right hand swift to offer to me
The right hand of fellowship
I went to my room and hummed the
Relationship blues
And read every word of
Salvation, by Langston Hughes
Now there was a kid who kinda knew my predicament
All these people
Hell bent
On getting me saved and sanctified
A traditional relationship with Jesus
Who died so I could wear black suits, white shirts and blue ties
Every Sunday morning without question or complaint
Stop being a sinner and right now, be a saint
We will tell you what to do
Memorize every prayer that we say
Live your life each day
Lock step
In the traditional way
So like young Langston sitting on the mourners pew
One Sunday morning
I was unsure of what to do
The church was loud and saints were singing
I'm sure I was one of the last ones
But was going to stick to my guns and ask questions
I was always the inquisitive type
Taking nothing done or said for granted
In the back pew I was planted
Not going to take a step until I could get my inquiries
Satisfied
Answered without a backhand slap
I sat quietly
My hands on my lap
And my eyes met the fire in his
I had better go up to the alter on the double
I had better go and get saved
To keep me out of trouble
And like young Langston
I went home that night
The light turned off and I stared into space
Seeing nothing but darkness
Looking for your face
But I didn't find you then
I found you much later
And my relationship today is greater
More meaningful than they told me it could be
We genuinely are friends and have an unspoken understanding
You know where I soar
And know when I'm landing
Questions all answered in my own time and way
I wish I had known you sooner
But so glad I know you today
