Matana Roberts All Things Beautiful
Friday, God forgive me and help me get myself straight
Those sounds, between moments of silence I could see bright light
And the movement of some kind of ritual
They were all wearing those strange hoods over their heads again
I could smell the smell of those embers as strong as I stand today
Flaming, shining bright
I've never been so frightened before since mama told me to hide
Those voices of those loud men getting ever more ferocious a scene
And some time later, mama dashed in and told me to run
To run towards our heavenly place
That was code for our favorite giant poplar tree, not far from where
Emmet Jean's white plaid cousin would call the wicked part of town
It was so big and majestic
Mama used to say it could touch the stars beyond even the devilish of moons
So I ran and I ran and I ran and I ran and I ran till I, till I couldn't run no more
I am a child of the wind, even daddy said so
We used to race and I would always win
When he say "Run baby run, run like the wind, that's it, the wind"
Memory is a most unusual thing, Saturday
Well dearie, I'm just living, no excitement nor entertainment
May God's blessings be with us through the night
All's well that ends well, or so I've heard
I wish I could feel myself again
I am a child of the wind, even daddy said so
We used to race and I would always win
And he said "Run baby run, run like the wind, that's it, the wind"
Memory is a most unusual thing
