CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL

The new jazz/poetry CD entitled "BECOMING IS" by Charles Curtis Blackwell 
and Billy Tolliver is available for $15.00 by sending check/money orders to 
Charles Curtis Blackwell at PO Box 417730, Sacramento, CA 95841 or email 
Ramona at MonaA555@aol.com 

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SKINNY MAN ON A D.C. BRIDGE

1.  A Solemn Journey to Begin

The Morning flower, filled with morning dew

Trickles down my song
    Cools the cobble stones
    beneath my feet as I cross the bridge

I look back in the bridges in life
Some having crossed in the morning 
While others I've walked through 
    the evening dusk
Bent down soul by the begging sun 
    to bow and humble
Before Man, God and Country
with no warning
Tragedy has fallen at my feet
Forever more, bleak in crossing
Another bridge awaits my feet
Before the moments end
I feel the fear there anticipating in the
    middle of this bridge
Before the water stops to flow
After friends become foe
Instead of the morning dew
I shall await here for the
    moon to glow spicy
Once more a bridge to take me
    away from you
The arms of life 
Itself will carry me through degradation.

Copyright Charles Curtis Blackwell


2.  The Strong Will of a Transvestite to Live

Mother doesn't know me
    anymore
Neither do friends
The community would scorn me
Yet this city can't recognize the perfume
Having stolen a man from his wife
    rent is paid, a new car, and steady work
Yesterday I met a possible lover here
    at the bridge
He seemed depressed like most professionals
This one's father was gone
I help myself as night falls on the District 
    to lurk about
    to please better than a woman
    to become rich and enjoy
    the finer things of life
Can't in no way be concerned
    about tomorrow's politics
So sorrowful
    having learned that much in church
Often have I wondered
Why someone would jump 
    from this bridge, to their
    death
Such a pity.

Copyright Charles Curtis Blackwell


3.  Here In the Lone of Societies Edge

The setting sun
Leaves me here
Yesterday's rain
History passing
The district has been rearranged
Scaffolds everywhere with
    scourges
News is soaked up on a
    constant basis
I can't take it all
    No one can take it all
    Games rearranged
Corporate squeeze until
Bricks crumble
Alone I feel, against the background
    of a city of monuments
I am a monument, in life
    bearing a grief, no tears 
    showing
as a horse being bet on, to show
not to win
only to show off
no marriage, no children, no family
only the guidelines and policies
    of a city's society
    to keep me
The setting sun, falls over the edge
No one is to grant me tolerance
to stand in love.


4.  Jive Ass D.C.

Rode the buses
the M-1, H-2, B-4 and shot some
    hoop with some partners
over in Southeast
hustle this chick for some dinner at Popeyes
caught the 1-7 and dropped
    in on my
Main lady to get some cash
    from her
She is a jive Federal Worker
Dressin like a G.S. 10
But I gets the cash
Could've made all-pro basketball, if it
    hadn't been for the white man
I can shoot some hoop
    trade school is for them
    cats fresh out of Lorton Penitentiary
Ain't done no time, they have to catch my ass
and I am slick
    see cause
    see cause
I can dribble a ball 
    up court and down court
My lady can't even catch me
Even on a hot Friday or a stormy Monday.

Copright Charles Curtis Blackwell