Chalky
a big negro
nigger
black
descending
into a family of 12
into the lower east side
into rooms of filth
and streets of excrement into
A poverty of no direction
Violent father
worn-out mother
Brothers
Sisters
a litter
of whelpers.
Chalky,
a nigger
black and ugly
descended
unveiled
with a soul of genius
and a mind capable of containing it.
Chalky, strong in mind
strong in body
strong in character
with the wisdom of the past
knew to keep his secrets to himself
and not to show
too much light
nor too much darkness
in order
to get out
and through
into his destiny.
If Chalky was too bright
his brothers would murder him
if too dumb
his father would scapegoat him
Chalky walked the tightrope
kept the secret to himself
stay hidded
studied on the sly
unveiled he knew from where he came
but not where he'd go
With no on to share his secret
Chalky
big black and ugly
but with a mind
razor sharp
veiled himself
in his push to the top
and forgot
that he was intended
to push through
and be an inspiration.