So Don'T Take This Personal Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Most of my life...
It was about 'they' and 'them'.
Very little was expressed about 'us' and 'we'.
Until a call for unity became popular.
That concept dried up quick.
Since nobody seemed to know how to do it!
It would all be so easy,
If we wanted to listen to each other.

Most of my conflicts were born from ignorance.
Like not being Black enough.
Or speaking like an ill willed intellectual.
Wanting to be 'somebody's nigguh'.
Or in a crowd of nigguhs to be declared...
'Hey, my nigguh! '
Complete with street gestures.
In a thugged out prowl!
Ready for a tender ballin'.
Donated by some street queen.

To express my knowledge,
About the 'sights' of togetherness.
You know...
The hand shakes and the grabbing of crotches.
Not each other's!
Not in public.
No labelled homo here.
Just donating a little spice...
To entice rumors.
And if you are a hetro...
A homo or two you will do.
Which makes all of this a lovefest!
And if the season is dull,
I'll spread a few home nesters myself.
There is room in the gutter for all of us!
And...
It is all about marketing!
So don't take this personal.