A Man of Color
My bloodline came from the African race,
So strong, so proud, and so free.
The white men forced me to another place,
The word freedom is just a memory.
With shackles on the feet, chain on the hands,
Sold on a box as if I was less than a man.
Cuts in my back, to understand who’s Boss,
Like the stripes on Jesus as he died on the cross.
In three days, Christ said he would return, and did,
But if I died from the whip, my life would end.
My baby girl had become the Master’s Wench,
While I lie dormant after escaping death of his whip.
My grandchild is born and again raised and sold,
This time to whom? Another master, I’m told.
You can chain my hands, shackle my feet,
But they can never chain my mind
From the freedom to think.
Jesse J. Gilmore
To Old Glory
Oh hail to Old Glory, Oh hail she stands up high,
As the wind sways her tail, she dances in the sky.
She waves to all the people, across this noble land,
With respect, we salute you, and proudly we stand.
We fought and died for freedom, you’d never let us down.
We’ll stand together forever, we’ll continue to stand our ground.
You stand for freedom and justice, Red, White & Blue,
Just like our Sister Liberty, her torch light's shines so true.
From Valley Forge to Gettysburg, W.W. One and Two,
You were there for us in Korea, even in Vietnam you flew.
But now, the fight is stronger, our battel for “liberty” isn't new,
To take a knee in protest was never in spite of you.
Our protest is against a few, that swore an oath in blue,
“To protect and serve” all the people, the oath they swore to you.
From the Civil War to the Civil Rights, for justice once before,
We must take a knee for Peace, and pray it won’t turn into war.
“Peace before Power”
JJG
The Tree of Knowledge
The calling of the learning tree,
That’s where all the old men would be.
The gray-haired men would sit around,
From sunup, until the sun went down.
Talking about those good old days,
Reminiscence of the sadness it gave.
That Tree had to be the smartest in the world,
As each man gathered to tell his own tale.
Talking about politics, religion, and pollution,
And which old man had the best solution.
Determining who was right or trying to mislead…
You couldn’t see the forest, because of the trees.
One would say, “Beat this” another…, “You aren’t able!”
“SLAP” goes the domino landing on the table.
Several seasons have come, and generations have gone,
gray-haired men sitting, playing, and slapping bones.
Talking about the past and what was on their mind,
All wishing: if they could turn back the hands of time.
Maybe, the conversation wasn’t meant to be,
But some of that Knowledge was stored in me.
I learned a lot from those old men,
Using their knowledge whenever I can.
While the old men would gather to congregate,
I would try to benefit from their mistakes.
Jesse J. Gilmore
Food for Thought:
Food for Thought
Food for Thought:
The desire of one’s will is far swifter than the action of one's desire.
Food for Thought:
It’s cheaper to build the mind in a child than an institution for men. J. Gilmore
Food for Thought:
Give it up, or give it all!
Food for Thought:
A man is as strong as the memories of his apologies. Without it he serve no god, but a collections of ghosts from his past.
Food for Thought:
"If you want goodness in your life, give goodness in your life"
"Every day is a "DO Over" until you run out of Do overs"
Life is less stressful when you exhale your past, and inhale your present to your future.