Historically Speaking Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Why am I 'not' making attempts,
To participate locally...
With my creative attributes?

Let's see.
How best can I respond to that?

I would love to!
However...
My ancestors used gaslamps,
And initiative to light their way!
I see no reason to follow in their footsteps.
Their activities have historically been implanted.
There is nothing they've done,
I wish to recreate.

Their sweat has brought me here to do my own thing.
And when 'my' reach is circumvented by my own folks,
Insisting I do a Step n' Fetchit...
To identify my loyalty to my ethnicness?
Well...
There is a misunderstanding going on.
Plus,
Identities are not as enriched as they should be.
And...
Historically speaking and from my perspective,
I wish I had another lifetime to give!
But I don't.

So I will not be retreading the traced steps,
Of those I know who have been trailblazers.
I have been blessed to do that on my own.
In my way.
And in my time!