The Bathers

We turned to fire when the water hit

Us. Something

Berserk regained

An outmoded regard for sanity

While in the fire station

No one thought of flame

Fame or fortune did them

 

We did them a fortune. We did

Them a favor just being

Ourselves inside of them

 

Holy day children

 

In the nation coming your children will learn all about that

 

But the water creep about us

Water hit us with force.

We saw a boy transformed into a lion

His tail is vau the syllable of love

A master before fellow craft

The summit of the Royal Arch

 

Lotus. Mover on the face of the waters . . .

 

Sleepless Horus, watch me as I lie

Curtained with stars when ye arise

And part the skies. And mount the Royal

Bark

 

They said the ancient words in shameful English

Their hearts rose up like feathers

 

In the hidden place

 

And Horus step into the flood of noon

Shedding his light upon the worlds

 

It was in Birmingham. It happened.

 

Week after week in the papers

The proof appears in their faces

 

Week after week seeing the same moment grow clearer

Raising the water,

 

Filling the vessel. Raising the water.

Filling the the vessel

 

O electromagnetic Light shaduf!

 

Ancient hands bearing water

Ha

 

   The star broke

Over the tub

 

   All righteousness

 

Not deceived by sunshine nor the light

From a man's desire

 

Deceived by desire

So that in the moment

The people cast light from their bodies

"Light" being the white premeditation

The simplest fashion

What they want is light

 

Another source to equip

Their dry want

 

Want fire light. Space light

Discretions of neon

 

At least.           So to appear natural

         Where the sun is

 

360° of light

 

Consumed in the labors of comfort

That cries for the balm

Of all that is natural

        Desire.

 

Bathing in the dark

The water glowing

In the plastic curtain

Suddenly heated

 

As another expels past satisfactions.

Cold as she washes gas tears

From her man's eyes. We hate you.

 

Hot on her soft thigh

Like the dog's breath at noon by the Courthouse

 

We hate you for that

 

   But ancient hands raised

This water

 

As the street's preachers

Have a good understanding hear them

 

O israel this O israel that

Down here in this place

Crying for common privilege

In a comfortable land

 

Their anger is drawing the water

Their daughters is drawing the water

 

Their kindness is laving and

Oiling its patients.

 

   That day

The figures on the trucks inspired no one

 

Some threw the water

On their heads

They was Baptists

 

And that day Horus bathed him in the water

Again

 

And orisha walked amid the waters with hatchets

Where Allah's useful white men

Came there bearing the water

And made our street Jordan

And we stepped into our new land

 

Praise God. As it been since the first time

 

Through the tear of a mother

 

1970