A Poem For Myself Poem by Daphna Rodin

(Or A Rip-Off From Etheridge Knight)

I was born in Texas
Lived in St. Louis County growing up.
Born in Austin Texas
Lived in St. Louis County growing up.
But I left when I was 21.
Left, I thought, for good.
I moved to a calm quiet place
Where Hebrew was mostly spoken.
Moved to a peaceful, quiet place
Where Hebrew was mostly spoken.
But I got sick 3 years later and left.
Jerusalem is now just another town.
And I'm back in America, I mean the States
Instead of my former heaven prowl.
I'm back in St. Louie, I mean the States
Instead of Jerusalem-my sort-of psychedelic prowl.
I want to return to Israel.
I need reality, not American kind-of crimes.
Yes, I want to return to Israel.
I don't like death as if it would be personally preferred.
But I'm still continuing to be disabled.
Some day soon, I hope I'll change!
Yes, I'm still disabled, altho' much less now.
Sooner & sooner I hope I will finally change!
Now I just wonder why I sing the blues
And then again I really don't care.
Yes, I sing the luscious blues with a vengeance!
And that is my personal tale...

1997