above all else

Do not close your eyes when the dogs

bare their gnarly teeth.

Do not smile shyly when 

fire hoses are used to press bodies 

unwillingly to the ground.

Do not be alarmed at that irony.

Do not stare at nothing when you walk.

Do not be passive.

They lit a cross

in a white man's yard

for not being passive - 

do not be alarmed at that irony.

They will see your posture

and evaluate your confidence

and if it is found you will sense it.

Intimidation is an ugly snarl;

it sparks defense mechanisms

and wields a survival knife.

If they ensnare you,

do not show fear 

as you offer them your throat

to slice.

Should your blood spill, 

it will flow in rivers of generations,

and should you come thru unscathed,

your testimony will walk before you.

Above all else, son,

when you grow up

be something that matters.

Reviews

[DaughterNature]

I love this! Every day I walk through Chicago and see so many people on the sidewalk with their eyes open, but who aren't seeing anything! We all need to notice, to see -- but sometimes it's hard to know what is safe or smart to do to act on what we see. On a structural note, I like how the first few stanzas have the repetition "Do not, do not" and how the next few have "They [did], they [did]" -- the repetition creates a mantra with a lot of power. To capitalize on that power of repetition, I would suggest maybe having the last group of stanzas all start with the same word/phrase/idea: "If" or "Should" feel like good fits.

[Ruth]

Reminds of me modern and ancient morals...both, have their place, delicately woven, so much so, the soul can walk through life and hope to see it's hope and faith walk before it xx

[m.s.early]

Thank you so much Poppy. Dig the profile Pic :)

[Ruth]

Thank you darling and welcome :) x

[Rita L. Sev]

Above all else, son,
when you grow up
be something that matters.

This is the best advice one could receive. The poem touches Life's harsh realities so poignantly; I am reminded of Kipling's "If". Well done, Xavier.

[m.s.early]

Thank you very much Rita :)

[Linda alexander]

Should your blood spill,
it will flow in rivers of generations,
and should you come thru unscathed,
your testimony will walk before you.

Above all else, son,
when you grow up
be something that matters.
An excellent write from my favorite poet after( Sarath Ramavarma, he is another poet ), so deep, fabulous footing on reality and most relevant in day to day struggle of this generation more than in the past I may say, best remedy to not to throw yourself int o an innocent victim or depressed candidate, every thing is perfect, I may say intensity of this strategy should be tuned to the situation when it comes to practical level, at times in the absence of extra cushion of support system and also considering the fact how it affects the souls you care pressurized to tune for you, last few lines the best ones I may say,really powerful writing enjoyed fully

[m.s.early]

Linda, you're too too kind. Thank you so much for your comments...

[Linda alexander]

You most welcome, my pleasure

[Blue]

Exceptional poem that offers wise counsels. I felt somewhat enlightened now. Haha.

[m.s.early]

Thank you so much Blue :)

[Pryde Foltz]

Should your blood spill,
it will flow in rivers of generations,
and should you come thru unscathed,
your testimony will walk before you.

An excellent write, X.

[m.s.early]

(: Thank you Pryde :)

[s y e]

Dude, you are just amazing..... You leave me speechless each time.

[m.s.early]

(: Thank you Noodle :)

[Shirlena]

Enjoy this moment...I just might be speechless for once or maybe this is a moment for silence. What a sobering and thoughtful write x.

[m.s.early]

Thank you Shirlena. Your thoughts are graciously appreciated :)

[Tate Morgan]

Having lived through the 60s I remember the days of the fire hoses and the dogs. Cross burning and idiotic behavior. Bigotry is always a sad step backward in our world. Welcome to enlightenment

[m.s.early]

Thank you so much Tate. I had been watching a documentary on JFK

[Tate Morgan]

i understand that those were tumultuous days

[LadyAnn68]

Very good! I am impressed! This is just the sort of thing that I write for! Advice is hard thing to follow but then once you experience it, it makes perfect sens2!

[m.s.early]

Thank you LadyAnne, but only if it's good advice and that's only realized after it's followed. Good judgement comes from bad experience, and most of that comes from bad judgement.

[LadyAnn68]

No wonder I am such a GOOD judge...LOL hahahha