Two Poems one for Panama and one for the USA

The Eviction and the Conviction
By Daniel Webster
I am naked and in despair
walking through the streets
with two pillows to cover me
past 3 churches
all with the name Gospel
on their building
with the following music playing
in my head
songs for the love who is pregnant
songs for the soul that needs saving
damnation for the soul that is lost
and songs for the loved one who is crazy
congas roll, congas roll, congas roll, congas roll
past the pretty black skin
interrupted by the loud colors
of clothing
shouting up to the sun
that blesses the skin and sweat upon their beings
with a harmonious glow:
pink, red, yellow
the colors yell proud and loud back
YES, we are pink, yellow, green, blue
on our way to church
songs, songs, songs…
I float by a bus sitting in front of a church
a brother looks at me as if to ask:
“Is he going in there or he is just going to travel?”
I look for salvation
from my sacrifices
I look for redemption
for my good deeds
I look for ACCEPTANCE
instead of reluctance
I beg for a pen from a man armed for batttle
I say, please I need to write, I have paper but no pen;
they do not want me to write…
songs for the one who is pregnant
songs for the soul who needs saving
songs for the damned who wouldn’t be saved
and songs for the one who is crazy
if I could sing, I would not write
if I did not sin, I would not think
that the psalm of purity
does not exist
It is carried in the wind
we forsake as time

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Los Prietos del Caribe
Saludos to the earth of my birth, Panama, one hundred plus years old.

Si tienen nada mas agua y bendiciones le hacemos un brindis to the land that gave seed to our roots with the United States; and makes us the unique tri-cultural beings that roam these lands.
Con Voz de Cholo y Ser de Chombo
brown was the land

> just like our fathers' hands

> that united the Pacific and Atlantic

> oceans

> over hills filled

> with monkeys

> in this county named after fish;

> their blood not wasted in vain

> though many a body was on that train

> that brought money and the pain

> of being paid silver for work

> now valued as gold...

> their genius, cunning and grace

> made it possible for Panama

> to be the honored place

> in the center of earth's face

> > Viva el 3 de noviembre...