America - Africans in a Zoo

It makes me laugh

It makes me cry

To think that you

To think that I

Will ever be

To those who see

Our skin so dark

A cursed mark

No more than apes

Arousing gapes

And verging near

Always with fear

Unless we're chained

They've never deigned

To take our side

But rather bide

That time would fly

And couch their lie

Until such day 

We go away

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It makes me laugh

It makes me cry

To think that you

To think that I

Live in a place

Subscribed to race

When taking stands

Will not clasp hands

Strain ev'ry soul

Stand in the cold

And rule with cash

With teeth that gnash

Abscond with time

Wallow in grime

And concentrate

To separate

Propitiously

So gingerly

With power lure

Engage in war

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It makes me laugh

It makes me cry

To think that you

To think that I

Remain in hope

That we might cope

With centuries

Unheeded pleas

And false reports

In lying courts

While looking back

At being Black

Fail to create

Approving fate

Accepting guile

Disguised in smile

Would rather weep

Than work to reap

Our legacy

Of victory

 

 

 

 

 

Richard A Cummings
An American In Thought

R.A. Cummings (2005)
Copyright © IMARA Music

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