Can't Follow the Drinking Gourd Anymore (1st Draft)

We had stars once

glittering, sparkling, shiny things that hung hopeful in the sky.

We had stars once.

You could follow two,

drink from a drinking gourd, 

and find a road to better.

They used to be right...there

but the lights blot them out now

City Lights

Flashing Lights

Glowing bars---pyramidal---that mark our "Progress"

They're not needed anymore, they say.

You got where you needed to get going.

And there's nowhere left to lead you but out to sea.

You got where you needed to get going---

to a land of blind people.

Those who can't see color...

or the twinkling of the stars that led you there

or the dusty rust red trail you walked on

or the people in their midst who only pretend they don't.

I don't know where to tell you to look, son---

where to point your compass when I'm gone...

because the night skies are too full of harsh light

not star-light

and there's not much space for your darkness.

You'll never even hear their twinkle over the keening of mothers for their children, gunshots, sirens, and the tap-tap-tap of keyboards ready to libel you.

Starlight won't banish the ghost of ghosts, 

the spectres of flames, 

or the whispered remnant of the shout that the South will rise again.

Where will you go, my son?

I do not know...

but it won't be lit so easily.

There won't be dogs or ropes or hoses that trip you up.

The pits are harder to see.

We had stars once...

and a place to be

with a path a good bit easier to see

but the destination's never what you think****

and the world doesn't change for free****

****

You have it better****

but not more easily****